Chorley's A&E '˜could reopen by August'

Chorley's A&E department could be open again by the end of August, hospital bosses have announced.
Ambulances queuing outside Wigan A&E after patients from Chorley A&E were diverted there. Pictures send in by Andrew BrooksAmbulances queuing outside Wigan A&E after patients from Chorley A&E were diverted there. Pictures send in by Andrew Brooks
Ambulances queuing outside Wigan A&E after patients from Chorley A&E were diverted there. Pictures send in by Andrew Brooks

The town’s A&E was closed in April due to an acute staffing crisis, and has been downgraded to an urgent care centre ever since.

Now a statement from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust says that, provided certain conditions are met, the unit could be open again by the end of August.

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Professor Mark Pugh, Consultant Anaesthetist and Medical Director of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said, “Our recruitment team and emergency department consultants have been working tirelessly to secure the additional staff we need to reinstate the service at Chorley.

“If all of the new trainee doctors we have been allocated actually report for work this August, and we are able to appoint one more permanent doctor, and can continue to fill any gaps with locums; we will have sufficient doctors. If we achieve that staffing position we hope to be able to reinstate the department from the end of August; however we can’t give any guarantees as this depends on a number of factors.

“Whilst we continue to make every effort to secure all the doctors we need, if we do not have the right number we won’t be able to reinstate the department in August.”

Today the Evening Post revealed that since the closure, the number of patients with a Chorley postcode attending Wigan’s A&E has increased fourfold.

Wigan Infirmary has now issued a ‘stay away’ notice for all non life-threatening cases due to unprecedented demand.