MEMBERS of Healthwatch Worcestershire have invited a senior leader from the NHS to attend their next board meeting to answers questions about the end of maternity services in Redditch.

Maternity services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch closed suddenly at the beginning of November, with many expectant mothers being told to attend the Worcestershire Royal Hospital instead.

Healthwatch has said that the changes have come into effect without public consultation or the proper support infrastructure in place in Worcester to lessen the impact on patients.

A spokesman for Healthwatch Worcestershire, said: “The NHS have assured us that ante and post-natal services are still provided at the Alex, that expectant mothers are being given as much support as is possible to adapt to the new situation and that a choice of where to give birth is still being offered. If that’s not the case we want to know and we are keen to gather experiences of mothers who have given birth at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital since the service was centralised on November 5 to support our feedback to the NHS. There is a survey available on our website for all parents of under fives which includes questions on experience of maternity services.”

The group has invited a senior leader from the NHS to attend its next public board meeting at Bromsgrove Methodist Centre on Friday, November 27 in a bid to put questions to them about how temporary the move is for mothers and families.

For more information on the board meeting or to fill out a questionnaire, visit healthwatchworcestershire.co.uk or call 01386 550264.