Monday 9th June is the deadline for the relocation of all Children's accident and emergency services to Ormskirk DGH.
After Monday, Southport A&E will not have the specialist staff to see children.There will also be no facilities for women going into labour.
This move is over a year in advance of the completion of the new £17 million Women's and Children's Centre to be based on Ormskirk and which will serve Southport, Formby and west Lancashire.
The new centre is due to be completed by December 2004, meaning that the current facilitieswill have to cope with an increase in demand on their existing resources (which if adequate surely would not require £17 million replacement).
The plans do not mention any increase in the number of ambulances serving the region.
As a town who's main income is from tourism, the loss of the childrens A&E could affect a visiting families decision on whether to come her or not.
Closing medical facilities due to 'duplication of resources' surely goes against the ethos of the NHS which is to distribute the resources to those who need them.
For further information see:
http://www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk/womens_childrens.htm
http://www.southportandformbypct.nhs.uk/News/women%20and%20children.htm
