Gobsmacked by NHS Bosses decision

In the past I have posted on here about the ongoing (7 years plus) campaign to get some form of emergency service for children in Southport. In my last posting on the subject NHS Stitch Up I explained how we had reached stalemate and how we hoped that a meeting with the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley may be able to move the situation forward.


Well, the revised report requested by the Minister has been produced and guess what absolutely no movement with regard to the Primary Care Trusts decision regarding a WIC for Children in Southport. You could even say that their position has become even more entrenched when NHS bosses say that there is no need for any children's facility and that nobody wants one anyway.

The public consultation undertaken as part of this report and which the Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley specifically asked to be included is farcical  - the equivalent of asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.

Harsh comments I know but I should add that the report does highlight some positive steps forward in health service provision for children in Southport. There will be better care for those children with long term health conditions and complex needs, there will also be a return of some outpatients clinics to Southport (they shouldn't have been moved in the first place but don't get me started), and better provision for children and adolescent mental health services.

So where to from here - one of the main points in this 2nd report is the creation of a Children's Hub at the Houghton Street Health and Wellbeing clinic in Southport town centre.  This clinic, which is part of the LIFT (PFI) Project in Sefton already holds a newly commissioned Darzi Practice so maybe there is the potential here for a GP led MIU.  Certainly it is something that should be investigated further.

So once again I ask you to watch this space.

Children's Minor Injuries Unit Update

Councillor Sue McGuire recently attended a meeting with senior managment from Sefton NHS, Southport & Ormskirk Hospital Trust and Sefton Council to discuss the latest moves for the provision of a Children's MIU in Southport.

As Sue, herself a long time camapigner for childrens and maternity services said "People in Southport have been waiting since 2003 for children to be treated in Southport again and although not a full A&E, a fully equipped Minor Injuries Unit will certainly be a step in the right direction. I am sure every parent and grandparent in Southport will welcome this.

Southport MP John Pugh said; " What Southport people want now frankly is some real action and not watering down of existing proposals. Although it will be great to see children once more treated on the hospital site , it is not the same as return of full childrens A&E. We need to have a system that's right both for emergency AND minor injuries "

Better health services for our Children

The recent tragic death of a baby from Southport clearly shows that our town needs better health services for our Children.




Although plans are proceeding for a Minor Injuries Unit for children,

Cllr Sue McGuire, long time campaigner for childrens & maternity services says;

"I have spoken to the senior management from both the Hospital and Primary Care Trust and everyone agrees it is crucial that staff at Southport Hospital are trained in emergency life support for children. Paramedics must be able to take children to Southport hospital in emergency situations - going to Ormskirk in those cases is just not acceptable."

Cllr Carmel Preston, herself a trained nurse, added

"This is the most appalling thing for any parent, any healthcare provision for our children must be about patient safety."

Our Children's Services Victory

Following a five year battle, NHS Sefton (formerly Sefton Primary Care Trust) have finally agreed to local peoples' pressure and announced that they will be having a walk in centre in Southport which will treat the vast majority of local children.

Local Councillor and longtime health campaigner Sue McGuire has met with senior managers from NHS Sefton to look at plans for a children’s walk-in centre in Southport. Options for the location of the centre and how it would be run were discussed at the meeting. NHS Sefton’s commitment to developing a minor injuries and ailments walk-in centre for children and young people, and consulting local people on the options for such a scheme was restated at the meeting.

A 12 week public consultation with local residents is expected to before the end of December. Two possible locations for the walk-in centre have been identified. They are Southport Centre for Health and Wellbeing or on the Southport Hospital site.

Councillor Sue McGuire pictured outside Royal Loverpool Children's Hospital following her recent visit (formerly Alderhey Children's Hospital)