Hospitals facing cuts to A&E hours

OPENING hours at Whiston and Warrington hospitals accident and emergency (A&E) units could be slashed under proposals being mulled by health chiefs.

One of the three options tabled in the Cheshire And Merseyside Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) is to cut opening hours at two A&E departments and diverting cases to urgent care centres.

The proposals include two other options, both for maintaining 24-hour A&E units in three NHS trust areas but with different levels of service and staffing arrangements.

If the reduced hours option goes ahead, the number of consultants covering the three A&E units would also be cut from three to two on call, the number of locums and agency staff would be downsized and between 8,700 and 20,000 patients would be transferred elsewhere per year, but with an increase in 80-150 available beds.

A Warrington And Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman said the sustainability plans are intended to make sure health and care services are designed to fit residents’ needs.

The Cheshire And Merseyside STP is the second largest of the 44 covering England and serving a population of 2.5m.

According to the STP, trusts in the area are facing a £908m funding gap from 2017-18 to 2020-21.

Mel pickup, WHH chief executive, said: “Any proposals to change A&E services would have to have a strong clinical evidence base and demonstrate a positive impact in terms of quality, safety and sustainability.

“They would also be subject to public engagement and consultation.

“At this stage, ideas are at a formative stage, based on input from clinicians and staff.

“It is important that we are open about the significant challenges we will face over the next five years in tackling poor health, improving quality and ensuring these services are sustainable in a period of financial constraint.

“All proposals that will emerge from the STP seek to address these challenges, including the future design of urgent and emergency care.”