WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier has slammed a petition calling for the Garden Suite chemo unit at Kidderminster Hospital to be returned to Alexandra Hospital.

The petition, which received more than 4,000 signatures in a week, was set up by Redditch MP Rachel Maclean after fears the unit's 'temporary' relocation to Kidderminster could be made permanent.

Now, Mr Garnier has spoken out against the "unhelpful" petition which has left him "unimpressed".

“I was very disappointed not to hear from Rachel when she started this petition," Mr Garnier said.

“It’s not helpful to the trust - politicians running around firing off petitions at the drop of a hat.

“The trust needs to be given the space to work out the best plans.

“I will work with the trust rather than work against them.”

In March, the trust said publicly that in the summer they could make the relocation permanent.

Previously, Paul Brennan, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the decision to move the unit to Kidderminster earlier this year was made to "protect patient safety" during the pandemic.

He said: "Initial feedback since the move has been overwhelmingly positive from both staff and patients, but we will continue to actively seek the views of colleagues and service users before any final decisions are made.”

Mr Garnier added: “This is good news for Kidderminster. I think clearly what we have heard from the trust is that staff and patients like this.

“We want to welcome more services to Kidderminster.

“Giving the trust the opportunity to give the best possible services is what we must get behind."

Rachel Maclean has now written to the chief executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG, Simon Trickett.

In the letter, she expresses concern about the distance her constituents will have to travel for their treatment.

The town’s MP also raised the issue of NHS England’s ‘Standard Contract for Cancer: Chemotherapy’ which makes clear patients should receive the right treatment as “close to home as practicable.”

Mrs Maclean said: “I’m leaving no stone unturned in this fight to ensure the Garden Suite is returned to the Alex.

“Since launching the petition I have been overwhelmed by the emails from constituents who have used or are using the Garden Suite.”

“All of them are opposed to the Garden Suite remaining permanently in Kidderminster. Their messages have only sought to strengthen my determination to fight local health bosses all the way on this issue."