Lancashire faces ‘terrible’ prospect of losing vital health services
Bosses detailed plans to “bring services together” at one site, and claimed this would “help ease pressures"
People in Ormskirk are becoming increasingly concerned at the prospect of losing its local children’s A&E department, as new proposals look to consolidate NHS services in either Southport or Ormskirk.
In July, it was reported on a NHS consultation process to discuss the possibility of axing A&E services in either Southport or Ormskirk.
Bosses detailed plans to “bring services together” at one site, and claimed this would “help ease pressures and allow us to provide round the clock emergency care”.
Two different proposals were put forward by the NHS Shaping Care Together Programme (SCT), the authority in charge of how NHS services are provided in Southport and Formby and West Lancashire.
A public consultation was launched, with patients being asked to choose where they would like to see services re-located.
The first option proposes bringing children’s and adult A&E rooms together on a single site at Southport Hospital, relocating the children’s A&E from Ormskirk Hospital and extending it to a 24 hour service.
"overwhelmed"
The second option would see services combined at Ormskirk Hospital, relocating the adult A&E from Southport to Ormskirk and extending the current children’s A&E to a 24 hour service. The consultation is open until Friday October 3.
Two weeks out from the conclusion of the process, rumours are beginning to swirl about what the final decision will be. These have been bolstered after the publication of two motions submitted by Cllr John Pugh and Cllr Mike Prendergast at a Sefton Council meeting on September 11.
The motions indicated that the Shaping Care Together Joint Committee, led by NHS Cheshire & Merseyside and NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria, had ‘expressed a preference’ for both Adult and Children’s A&E Services to be co-located at Southport Hospital.
If this ‘preference’ is to be realised, it means the children’s A&E department at Ormskirk hospital will close down. To assess the mood and perspectives of those likely to be impacted, the LDRS visited Ormskirk town centre to ask people what they thought about losing such a vital service.
Clare Lewtas lives in Ormskirk and is visiting the town centre to enjoy the market with her two parents. Clare has two young children and is genuinely concerned at the prospect of losing the children’s A&E department at Ormskirk hospital.
"sad and very concerning"
She said: “It’s terrible what they’re proposing because you can’t get to Southport as quick as you can get to Ormskirk, it’s a long way especially when you’re concerned about a sick child.
“I think Southport is overwhelmed enough without adding to the demand by closing down what we have here. It’s really sad and very concerning because something could go severely wrong in the transport between here and Southport, and children are very fragile, especially when they are unwell.
“They should be talking about keeping both departments – keep the one here and open up one in Southport. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t be a priority because what’s more important than a child’s health?”
These sentiments were shared by everyone we spoke to on the day, including George and Jackie Ashcroft, originally from Liverpool, but who now live in Ormskirk.
George said he has been monitoring the consultation process, but is also aware of rumours suggesting a decision has already been made and Ormskirk’s A&E department will likely be closed down.
These rumours have been refuted by the SCT which confirmed to the LDRS that no decision has been made.
George appreciates this point but is still sceptical about the value of the consultation process and believes the choice is a false economy, he said: “First of all, we had a full A&E service when we first moved up here in 1977 and it was good. We have the children’s A&E, which has been a godsend for a lot of people here, including us.
“We have a son with Down syndrome and we visited the A&E a lot, especially when he was younger.
“I think for a lot of people here, the big worry is the prospect of getting to Southport in an emergency. From here, especially in the summer, it is an absolute nightmare.
“The whole idea is ridiculous and we have spoken to staff who are also really concerned. We’re at a point where we can’t afford to be closing down parts of the NHS, we need to be building it up and investing in it because money should not be an issue when it comes to things like a children’s A&E.”
However, despite the alleged ‘preference’ of the joint committee, there remains a concerted and committed campaign to keep the emergency service in Ormskirk. Our West Lancashire Councillor, Adrian Owens has campaigned on the issues raised by the SCT consultation and compiled case studies to back up his advocacy for the retention of Ormskirk’s A&E department.
"decision-making process"
Cllr Owens said: “If a full accident and emergency service cannot be situated at both sites, then the Ormskirk option is the strongest. Importantly, it ensures fair access.
“Ormskirk is centrally located and better serves the entire catchment, including Skelmersdale, where health outcomes are poorer, car ownership is low and public transport is limited. If emergency care is concentrated at Southport, Skelmersdale with the most disadvantaged wards will be disadvantaged still further.”
He added: “Ormskirk is 10 to 20 minutes closer than Southport to tertiary centres such as Whiston, Alder Hey, and Aintree. In those rare but time critical cases such as trauma, stroke, obstetric emergencies, these minutes matter.”
Responding to the concerns raised by local residents and the consultation process, a spokesperson for Shaping Care Together said: “Shaping Care Together is currently undertaking a 13-week public consultation asking people to share their views on where A&E services across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire should be located. No decisions have been made.
“The consultation is open until 11.59pm on Friday 3 October and we encourage local residents, patients, and members of the public to submit their views and get involved in the consultation. After the end of the consultation period, all views and responses will be thoroughly analysed and form a key part of the decision-making process.”