Hospital losing children's A&E has a 'vital future'

A hospital set to have its children's A&E services controversially taken to another site will continue to provide key services, an NHS boss has said.

Children's A&E services are due to move from Ormskirk to Southport Hospital.

Craig Harris, from the new regional NHS board, also said health authorities will see if a Skelmersdale walk-in centre can be upgraded for patients who need urgent care.

He was 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.

It comes after adult A&E services were shifted to Southport some years ago, with the NHS regional Integrated Care Boards wanting to move Ormskirk's children's A&E too.

West Lancashire councillors have opposed the idea and want local MPs and the Department for Health to look at the whole situation, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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 the changes happen.

In response, Harris, the chief commissioning officer for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria, said the decision for the move was made "based on the public consultation findings alongside clinical, financial, equalities, workforce and quality evidence".

He added: "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% of activity is not A&E."

He said bosses were also "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.

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