Harriett Baldwin, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire has reacted with horror to Whitehall plans asking NHS Worcestershire to hand over its community hospitals and GP practices. NHS Worcestershire released a Stakeholder Brief on Friday to explain that they had been asked by the Department of Health to review the services they provide, with a view to Primary Care Trusts stopping providing services. Instead Primary Care Trusts are being told just to commission services from independent hospital trusts, GPs and social enterprises. PCTs are being asked to come up with plans to integrate their services with Acute Hospitals or Mental Health Trusts. Harriett Baldwin said, “I am outraged that Whitehall has decided to meddle and reorganise such a fundamental aspect of the NHS in Worcestershire with only a few months to go before a General Election. The Acute Hospital Trust has well-known challenges and financial difficulties. Now the new Malvern hospital may be at risk of being handed over, as are Pershore hospital and Tenbury Community Hospital. Another project board, more consultants fees, another consultation on something nobody wants. This will all distract the NHS from its core function providing excellent health care in Worcestershire.” | StakeholderBrief Special Edition Jan 2010