Residents' fears over losing children's A&E unit

Clare Lewtas is concerned at the prospect of losing the children's A&E department at Ormskirk hospital

People in Lancashire are becoming increasingly concerned at the prospect of losing a children's A&E department, as new proposals look to consolidate NHS services in either Southport or Ormskirk.

Bosses want to "bring services together" at one site to "help ease pressures and allow us to provide round the clock emergency care".

This would mean the children's A&E in Ormskirk moving to Southport, where there is no current service. One mum, Clare Lewtas, said she was worried about the time it takes to travel to Southport, "especially when you're concerned about a sick child".

A joint committee of NHS trusts behind the plans says "no decisions have been made". A consultation runs until 3 October.

One option sees services combined at Ormskirk Hospital

One of the options proposes bringing children's and adult A&E 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.

The second option sees services combined at Ormskirk Hospital instead, relocating the adult A&E from Southport to Ormskirk and extending the current children's A&E to 24 hours.

Two weeks from the conclusion of the consultation, rumours are beginning to swirl about what the final decision will be, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

These have been bolstered after the publication of two motions submitted by councillor John Pugh and councillor Mike Prendergast at a Sefton Council meeting.

The motions indicated the Shaping Care Together (SCT) 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.

Ms Lewtas, from Ormskirk, has two young children and is concerned at the prospect of losing the children's A&E department at Ormskirk hospital.

She explained: "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."

George and Jackie Ashcroft say getting to Southport in summer is an "absolute nightmare"

George and Jackie Ashcroft, originally from Liverpool but who now live in Ormskirk, said: "We had a full A&E service when we first moved up here in 1977 and it was good.

"We have a son with Down syndrome and we visited the A&E a lot, especially when he was younger," Mr Ashcroft said.

"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."

'Strongest'

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.

He 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."

A spokesman for Shaping Care Together said: "No decisions have been made."

"The consultation is open until 3 October and we encourage local residents, patients, and members of the public to submit their views and get involved in the consultation," they said.

"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."