Ormskirk Hospital to keep key services despite children's A&E move
Ormskirk Hospital has a vital future and we’ll look at Skelmersdale care too says NHS boss in A&E row
Ormskirk Hospital will continue to provide key services an NHS boss has said amid a row over plans to move children’s A&E services from the unit to Southport.
Craig Harris, from the new regional NHS board also said health authorities will see if a Skelmersdale walk-in can be upgraded for patients who need urgent care.
Speaking after West Lancashire councillors said children’s lives will be ‘endangered’ and Skelmersdale people will be worst-hit, if Ormskirk Hospital’s remaining A&E services are moved to Southport.
Adult A&E services were shifted to Southport some years ago. But now, NHS regional Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) want to move Ormskirk’s children’s A&E to Southport too. The NHS boards cover areas including Lancashire and Merseyside.
West Lancashire councillors oppose the idea. And they want local MPs and the Department for Health to look at the whole situation. In a debate, councillors recently said people in Skelmersdale would be worst-effected, with journeys ‘more than doubling’ to reach A&E at Southport, if changes happen.
In response, Craig Harris, chief commissioning officer for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “The joint committee of two regional ICBs made the decision to co-locate adult and children’s A&E at Southport based on the public consultation findings alongside clinical, financial, equalities, workforce and quality evidence.
“The decision was about making sure there is a 24/7 emergency department for both adults and children at the same site, which will safely and sustainably deliver emergency care for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire.
“Ormskirk Hospital will remain open and continue to provide key services to patients, including outpatient services, urgent treatment, planned care, diagnostics and inpatient services. There is active investment planned for the site and it’s vital to remember that currently 86 per cent of activity is not A&E.”
He added: ” Following the outcome of the consultation, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has committed to exploring the possibility of upgrading the walk-in centre in Skelmersdale to an urgent treatment centre.”
At their recent full meeting, West Lancashire councillors criticised the shake-up ideas and the public consultation process around it. They also said no upgrade had been proposed by the NHS to provide a full, urgent treatment centre in Skelmersdale. Currently, the town has a walk-in centre in the Concourse shopping centre