Council boss calls on Prime Minister for A&E talk

The chief executive of Lancashire County Council is seeking an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to discuss the closure of Chorley A&E.
Photo KEVIN McGUINNESS
Accident and Emergency, Chorley HospitalPhoto KEVIN McGUINNESS
Accident and Emergency, Chorley Hospital
Photo KEVIN McGUINNESS Accident and Emergency, Chorley Hospital

Jo Turton has made the move after a motion seeking the action was passed by full council on Thursday.

County Council Steve Holgate, chairman of the council’s health scrutiny committee, proposed the motion.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He believes the situation in Chorley, where there are not enough specialists to continue running an A&E department safetly, is “an early symptom of an emerging national problem in the NHS.”

Steve HolgateSteve Holgate
Steve Holgate

He wants to see the Government to rethink recruitment policies.

He said: “I think Chorley has been unfortunate in that a series of issues have come together at the same time, but I believe its one of many, many A&Es across the country that are on the verge of toppling over the edge.

“The NHS is struggling to recruit and retain staff, which is related to the number of training places being reduced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If there aren’t enough staff in the NHS our next step is to go to Europe, but a lot of their training doesn’t fit in with our A&E culture and very often they don’t stay.

Steve HolgateSteve Holgate
Steve Holgate

“The third and final resort is to go places like the Indian sub continent, Canada and Australia, typically former colonies where the culture of training and A&E is embedded.

“We need a conversation that in the short term we need to be looking more at these people and stop our reliance on locums. They only have to give a few days notice and how can you organise a roster on that basis?”