Council eyes legal challenge over children’s A&E department closure

In March this year, a joint committee made up of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria decided to close the children's A&E department at Ormskirk Hospital as part of plans to combine children’s and adult accident & emergency services at Southport Hospital.

Announcing the move, the ICBs said it followed a "rigorous and thoroughly detailed process including a 10-week pre-consultation engagement period and 13-week public consultation".

However, councillors at West Lancashire have since passed a motion to note "with alarm and great concern the decision" to close the department.

The motion raises questions around the process followed by the joint committee in relation to how the options presented in the consultation proposals were developed, and elements of the public consultation process itself.

It also claims that there was “inadequate consideration given to the input of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee”.

An amendment to the motion adds: “This council further resolves to delegate to the Director of Planning, Economy & Wellbeing in discussion with the Lead Member and Group Leaders, to take any and all further steps or actions in relation to challenging the decision taken by the NHS to close Children’s A&E at Ormskirk Hospital, including but not limited to the consideration of a call-in, support for other call-in requests, appeal, complaint or judicial review, as appropriate.”

Responding to the council, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB’s chief commissioning officer, Craig Harris, said: “The joint committee of the two ICBs made the decision to co-locate adult and children’s A&E at Southport Hospital based on the public consultation findings alongside clinical, financial, equalities, workforce and quality evidence.

"The decision was about making sure there is a 24/7 emergency department for both adults and children at the same site which will safely and sustainably deliver emergency care for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire."

He added: "Following the outcome of the consultation, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has committed to exploring the possibility of upgrading the walk-in centre in Skelmersdale to an urgent treatment centre."

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey