STROKE services at Warwick Hospital could be moved to Coventry in a bid to save money.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Sustainability and Transformation Plan has been shrouded in secrecy as talks took place over the last few months. It is set to be released next Tuesday (December 6).
It will look at how the area can help towards countering a £267 million funding deficit across the region.
Leaked documents suggest stroke services at Warwick Hospital could be moved to University Hospital Coventry, where a specialist centre would be opened.
The changes could take place as early as next July.
Jo Malone from the Warwick and Leamington Stroke Support Group said they had been visited by a representative for the NHS who asked how they would feel about travelling to Coventry for treatment.
She said: “Earlier this year we had someone from the NHS come to our group who was enquiring about how we would feel if all the resources went to Coventry.
“As many of our members are from around Leamington there were a lot who were not happy about the proposals with objections mainly about getting there and parking.
“But when you have had a stroke you will go to where you get the best care and chances of improvement. It may be further to travel but as long as we get the best support and care at the best hospital.
“To have a stroke is devastating for the whole family and immediate treatment is what is needed.
“It would worry me to travel further. If I have a stroke and it meant to go to Warwick to get initial treatment then transfer to specialist centre where you can recuperate further then that would be what we’d have to do.”
Other leaked proposals in the plan say the A&E and maternity departments at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton could also close and cancer care will be reviewed.
A full list of the STP proposals is set to be released next week.
