Formby MP, Bill Esterson has written to the Health Secretary about government plans to shut A&E at Southport and Formby Hospital.



The plans were highlighted in national media reports and are part of the so-called “Sustainability and Transformation” Plan (STP) for Cheshire and Merseyside. Government plans for Southport and Formby would see cuts in the hours or outright closure of A&E, which would mean patients having to travel to Preston, Aintree or Liverpool in an emergency.

Formby’s Labour MP, Bill Esterson said, “Plans to shut A&E at Southport would have a drastic impact on people in Formby, Hightown and Ince Blundell. It would affect some people in Crosby as well. The government plan is supposed to be about sustainability. But it doesn’t sound very sustainable or sustaining for people living in Formby, Hightown or Ince Blundell, who will face a much longer journey to A&E in an emergency.

"I have only the highest praise for staff at Southport and Formby Hospital for the care I received when I was admitted through A&E a few years ago and I want all my constituents to continue to receive the high levels of care that I received. So the idea of cuts in the hours or outright closure are of great concern to everyone living nearby.

"When the then Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition government made changes to the NHS with the Health and Social Care Act in 2012, it was clear that pressure would grow for closures including of A&E. So, sadly it is no surprise that this is being considered. My Labour colleagues on Sefton Council voted against the plans for closure and rejected the STP. Now we must fight hard stop the government from going ahead with these cuts to A&E.

"That’s why I have written to Conservative Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, asking him to confirm what his plans are for Southport A&E. It cannot be right to close such a vital A&E as it will add significantly to the journey times and the risks for people in Formby, Hightown and Ince Blundell as well as in Southport and in South Ribble as well. A further consequence of the closure of A&E would be to undermine the effectiveness of the hospital and I have therefore asked Mr Hunt to confirm whether his long term intention is to close the hospital or not.”

Bill Esterson MP’s letter to Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt is attached and he is pictured with Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Southport, Liz Savage and Labour candidate for South Ribble, Veronica Bennett. Residents in Formby, Southport and parts of South Ribble will all face longer journeys to A&E if Southport is closed.

Downgrading the A&E would not be good in my view however what would be really useful, far more useful than political capital being sought by labour blaming con/lib, conservatives blaming state they picked things up from and libs blaming anyone but themselves would be one of our self styled better informed explaining the proposal:

http://www.westlancashireccg.nhs.uk/...eyside-STP.pdf

E.g.

1) what does it mean, looking at page 32 it says "S&O will consider the potential options for new models of A&E delivery – subject to further engagement" and then lists three options, are all these options bad, how many trusts have a&e's today etc. as struggling to find the information on google
2) are any of the items in the report things that should be as they say "welcomed" in terms of efficiency and approach for non acute services.

As for the approach, does sound like there is a consultation period/approach so guess it's how we get good people involved in that (please not Dawson whether self styled "spokesman" or not)?

Having a full and informed set of people is far more useful than "concerned face" pictures of our electives who if they want our support should give us a clearer picture not that anyone would vote to downgrade the a&e.

"about government plans to shut A&E at Southport and Formby Hospital".

Is that factually accurate? I thought the health authorities, who have devolved power and budget, make these decisions?

I agree we need to keep Southport's open, but it is becoming very unclear what is fact and what is a manufactured political froth to support the latest Lib/Dem/Lab quest to look productive for the town.