Residents asked for views on children's A&E future

Residents are being invited to have their say on the future of emergency care as part of a programme which will impact a children's accident and emergency unit.

The Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust has asked for input into what the future of emergency healthcare could look like for Southport and Ormskirk hospitals.

Southport children's accident and emergency departments was closed 20 years ago. Children currently have to travel to Ormskirk for emergency care, where the opening hours were limited to between 08:00 and midnight during the pandemic and were never reinstated.

The trust has asked residents to share their views before it draws up alternative proposals, but said it was "considering all options".

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS trust was formed in 2023, following the merger of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Dr Kate Clark said the programme aimed to address the fact the trust was not able to provide children who live in Southport and Ormskirk with access to emergency care 24/7.

"Our main priority here is making sure that the services are safe, that's why we made the very difficult decision to close the A&E overnight," she said.

"That is not something we want to continue, we need to find an appropriate solution so parents know where they can go 24/7."

Dr Clark said the children's emergency department was about 50-60% more expensive than a standard emergency department because of staffing.

"We've got a responsibility to spend public money in the most effective way, at the moment the way in which those services are delivered is costing more than any other emergency department," she said.

She added the hospital also struggled to recruit staff so had to rely on agency and bank staff, which were more expensive.

Dr Clark said the public can share their opinions in an online survey on the trusts' website, or make a request for a postal survey.

A draft proposal based on the survey results would be drawn up with an aim to start a formal consultation next spring.

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