Resort’s politicians lead calls for key services to be based here
LOCAL politicians are leading calls for Southport Hospital to be chosen as the “hot” site for essential services.
Southport Conservative MP Damien Moore said: “Hundreds of tourists visit our town, and thousands choose to retire here.
“Given the demands this creates on our NHS, I believe Southport would be the best ‘hot’ site.”
Southport Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman John Wright said: “We hope this is going to be good news for Southport.
“Obviously, nothing can be presumed yet; but we know Southport people want to have the best possible health services in the town, and for them to be truly local, not located miles away in Ormskirk or Liverpool.
“We will be fighting to help make their voices heard, as we have done in previous campaigns, ever since the Labour government took away the children’s A&E department in 2003.”
Southport Labour parliamentary spokesman Liz Savage said: “The trust makes a strong case for the need for change but it has to be for the good of local residents and not just a matter of efficiency savings.
“We’ll be keeping a keen eye on the proposals once they start to take shape to ensure that’s the case.
“The NHS has never been under greater strain or greater threat due to current government policy and it is being privatised by stealth.”
Sefton Conservative leader Cllr Terry Jones welcomed the possibility of a new hospital being built.
He said: “I warmly welcome any investment into the hospital services for our residents,
“I firmly believe that they have had a bad deal over many years and I am pleased to see a possible hospital that is fit for purpose and our residents need and deserve.”
West Lancashire Labour MP Rosie Cooper meanwhile said she would fight any proposals which could mean Ormskirk Hospital losing children’s A&E, maternity and other vital services.
She said: “This decision will be subject to a formal consultation and I will strongly oppose any reduction in services provided here at Ormskirk.”
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust chief executive Silas Nicholls, who took up the post three months ago, refused Visiter requests for an interview.
But in an “open letter”, he said: “In 1996, 14% of people in West Lancashire were aged 65 and over – by 2036 it is expected to be 28%. In Sefton, the change is even more dramatic. People over 65 are projected to number 30% of the population compared with 18% 40 years earlier.
“Getting older means some people need more frequent care, especially those with long-term conditions like breathing difficulties or diseases like dementia. Care also too often means a hospital admission and into buildings planned in the 1980 not fit for the needs of today’s mainly older, frailer patients.
“That’s why the trust’s board members support senior nurses and doctors’ view that our services need to change and are fit for the future.
“No decisions have been made, beyond the fact that we need to further invest in both our hospital sites at Southport and Ormskirk.
“How services could be organised in the future range from keeping services as they are, redeveloping and improving the hospital sites at both Southport and Ormskirk through to making the case for a new hospital.
“Our initial thoughts will be submitted later this month to the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.
“Over the coming months, we will be asking people across our community and beyond for their opinions.”