Travel distances to these A&E services will ‘more than double’, say Lancashire critics

People in Skelmersdale will see travel distances to A&E services ‘more than double’, if the changes happen, councillors say. And they have criticised an NHS consultation process, calling on different authorities to start a local resolution process.

The accusations came at West Lancashire Council’s latest full meeting, when councillors backed a motion from the OWL political group, with some Labour additions. They questioned plans and public consultation about moving children’s A&E services from Ormskirk to Southport by new regional NHS bodies called Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).

OWL Coun Adrian Owens said residents were ‘alarmed and concerned’ at a recent decision by a joint committee of ICBs in Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside, recommending moving children’s A&E from Ormskirk to Southport. Adult A&E services were moved to Southport some years ago.

He said: “The lives of children in West Lancashire – in Skelmersdale and Up Holland in particular – are endangered by this option chosen. The decision is not in the best interests of the health service in West Lancashire.

“Residents in the most disadvantaged wards in the whole hospital catchment area, in parts of Skelmersdale with low car ownership, will see the distance to children’s A&E more than double . This was recognised in an NHS assessment – but no effective mitigations have been suggested.”

He and Labour Coun Vickie Cummins said concerns have also been raised by Lancashire County Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. But late communication or other factors meant the comments were not seen in time by key people on the ICB project.

Coun Cummins said councils should now ask the Department for Health to look at the situation with a ‘call-in’ request.

Labour’s Andy Fowler said: “I support this motion but all services should be returned to Ormskirk Hospital – not just children’s A&E. We should have all facilities in West Lancashire.”

Conservative Kate Juckes said: “Skelmersdale is the borough’s largest town, with a population of 39,000. But its facilities have been reduced. Doctors say this hospital change would add more pressure on A&E at Southport and more congestion on the roads there. Ambulance services should also be considered.”

ACCUSATIONS

Laying-out his accusations about the hospital plans, Coun Owens said: “First, there are concerns about how the options were developed. The decision to close Ormskirk A&E flowed directly from early design choices, which constrained the range of options before consultation even began.

“Several early decisions effectively pre-determined the outcome. The current split-site hospital arrangement was defined as the ‘core problem’. So options to strengthen or stabilise it were ruled-out.”

He added: ” The review was explicitly limited to ‘urgent and emergency care’, excluding maternity care, despite national standards which treat these as inter-dependent. The NHS says this is subject to a separate review.”

He said NHS ‘hurdle criteria’ discounted any hospital designs or arrangements that might need significant cash investment, property re-designs or wider clinical consolidation. And NHS models relied on post-Covid pandemic patient flows which were influenced by a temporary, but now permanent, overnight closure of paediatrics at Ormskirk.

Also an NHS weighting system emphasised deliverability and financial sustainability, over patient access and equity, he claimed. And he disputed estimates for a new car park at Ormskirk Hospital. A surveyor costed a new car park at £3.5million, plus the cost of a lift. But the NHS business model estimated a car park would cost £9.2million.

Coun Owens claimed: “This calls into question all the costings provided.”

CONSULTATION

In addition, he queried elements of the public consultation process. He said: “It did not depict the Ormskirk option accurately, because introducing an urgent treatment centre in North Sefton was not included in consultation material.

“No consultation events were arranged in Burscough or Up Holland until events were hurriedly arranged mid-consultation. And leaflet distribution missed-out most of Skelmersdale and many other parts of West Lancashire.”

And no upgrade has been proposed to provide a full Skelmersdale urgent treatment centre

Backing the motion with some Labour additions, councillors asked a top West Lancashire officer to write to a joint ICB committee, requesting a local resolution process. Concerns will also be sent to other authorities, councils, and MPs.

The NHS integrated care boards have been contacted for comment.