Uncertainty over Redditch hospital's emergency department led to mass resignation, say campaigners

An NHS trust will advertise this week to replace a team of emergency consultants who resigned en masse amid continuing uncertainty over a review of acute services.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said that emergency services would continue "as normal" after five consultants handed in their resignations-four from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and one from Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Campaigners said that delays to a review of acute services had left accident and emergency (A&E) consultants "in limbo" over their future, amid fears that the Alexandra Hospital would lose its A&E department. The consultants have all been offered jobs at Warwick Hospital.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said that it recognised the risk that staff could leave for other posts if uncertainty continued over the review, which had caused "frustration."

On 16 February the trust said, "We are agreeing the leaving dates with all of...