THE embattled A&E departments in Worcester and Redditch have received unannounced inspections from an independent health regulator.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission spent time assessing both Worcestershire Royal and the Alexandra Hospital last night (Tuesday 24).

The visit by the health watchdog comes after the two hospitals have received growing criticism in recent months for overcrowding issues and struggling to cater for patients.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the two hospitals, was also thrown into crisis when five A&E consultants – four from Alexandra Hospital and a fifth from Worcestershire Royal – resigned en masse in February.