The proposals

AT present both urgent and emergency paediatric services are offered at South Tyneside and Sunderland. Both options given in public consultation propose the removal of a 24-hour paediatric emergency department in South Tyneside.

The CCGs’ proposal is to replace this with a nurse-led paediatric minor injury and illness facilities (open 8am – 10pm) at South Tyneside. The provision of a 24-hour emergency paediatric emergency department would relocate to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Until recently, a full range of stroke services including emergency treatment and specialist stroke nurse practitioners were offered in both South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Acute stroke services have temporarily been relocated to Sunderland Royal Hospital. The CCGs’ proposal is to transfer all acute stroke services to Sunderland Royal Hospital permanently; resulting in the permanent closure of the 20 stroke beds at South Tyneside.

At present South Tyneside residents can access maternity and women’s healthcare services at South Tyneside Hospital including emergency and major planned gynaecological surgery.

Both sites also provide Special Care Baby Units (SCBU) and have consultant-led and midwifery-led delivery facilities which can accommodate both low and high risk births across both sites.

The CCGs’ decision proposes to develop a freestanding midwifery-led unit at South Tyneside but to relocate all consultant-led and SCBU services to Sunderland.