Wyre Forest Community Unit welcomed local MP Mark Garnier, in Kidderminster today. On his visit, to the hospital which serves the MP's constituents, he was welcomed by Hospital Matron, Deborah Narburgh, Associate Director of Community Hospitals, Lisa Levy and Director of Delivery, Simon Hairsnape.
The visit took place 12pm today (Friday 18 March) at the Kidderminster Hospital site on Bewdley Road in Kidderminster.
The MP met staff at the unit and visited some inpatients on the wards.
Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Hospital Matron, Deborah Narbrugh, said: "We were very pleased to welcome Mark Garnier to the Wyre Forest Community Unit so he could see for himself the care we provide. He has taken a keen interest in our work, so we were happy to have the opportunity to show him around."
MP Mark Garnier, said: "I was very grateful to Deborah and her staff for her time and showing me around. This is a time of change in the NHS and I am very keen to make sure that none of my constituents, be they patients or staff, are adversely affected. The transfer of the Community Unit to the acute hospitals trust is happening well before the implementation of the yet to be passed Health Bill, currently working through parliament. But for those in the NHS, they will need to manage all the changes. That is why I was very keen to meet with them and to be available if they want to raise any issues."
Wyre Forest Community Unit is a 20 bed hospital and that provides intermediate care and rehabilitation services. The care at the hospital is provided by local GP's.
In the coming months, as part of the work to Transforming Community Services, the Wyre Forest Community Unit, currently run by Worcestershire PCT, will transfer to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.
This comes as part of the new NHS reforms, where the Coalition government has outlined plans for GPs to collectively decide what health services they wish to commission and where they wish to commission these services from. The unit is an example of successful GP involvement and the way forward in providing the best local care to the people of Worcestershire.