Axe falls on Southport’s promised kids’ minor injuries walk-in centre

SOUTHPORT’S much-awaited children’s minor injuries unit has been ditched by health bosses over “clinical safety” fears.

The kids’ unit – first promised in June 2008 by NHS Sefton – was deemed unaffordable by experts, in a report entitled ‘Improving Children's Services In North Sefton’.

Parents last night accused the Primary Care Trust of reneging on its pledge to provide the walk-in centre, seen as critical following the removal of children’s casualty to Ormskirk in 2003.


Campaigners have vowed to fight the review – carried out by two of the country’s leading paediatric experts – which claims such a facility is not feasible.

It reads: “Report authors, Dr Hilary Cass and Dr Ian Dr Maconochie did not recommend the establishment of a children’s walk-in centre in Southport due to issues of clinical safety, clinical need, workforce viability and financial viability.

“Other services for children were identified in the independent report as being of greater priority.”

Families last night reacted with anger to NHS Sefton claims that the treatment of children with serious illnesses could be delayed if they were taken to the centre, rather than A&E.

They include mums like Mel Beeley, whose daughter Elsa (pictured right) had the lead from a pencil stuck in her ear for a week after Ormskirk hospital could not treat her.

Mam White, who lives in the town with her 16-month old child, said: "They should have a unit in Southport because it could just be a little thing and you have to go to Ormskirk, which is difficult without transport.”

Mrs Lunt has two teenage sons and a four-month-old child.

She said: "I think it's terrible considering there are so many children in this town and the fact that you have got to go all the way to Ormskirk. It's just wrong.”

Lynsey Lewin, of Forest Road, added: "I just think it's disgusting. It's ridiculous that there is no emergency service for kids. There is nothing more important than your kids."

The report suggests instead improving current care facilities, auditing patterns of A&E use for minor and improving transport between Southport and Ormskirk hospitals.

Dr Janet Atherton, acting chief executive of NHS Sefton, said: “We recognise the concerns of local stakeholders about access to urgent care for children in Southport.

“We are looking at how we can address these concerns along with making improvements in services identified as high priority within the report.

“It is essential that the options emerging from this work are based on sound clinical evidence, and on the views of potential service users. Options also need to be cost effective.”

Hospital campaign group CARES labelled the report “unjustifiable” and demanded that urgent care facilities for children are returned to our town.

It is holding an emergency meeting on Monday at Christ Church, Lord Street (7pm).

Co-chairman Cath Regan said: “The report did not ask any opinions from the residents – only medical people who live 250 miles away.

“Children’s lack of urgent care facilities in Southport should have been the PCT’s priority over the last seven years.

They need to put this wrong right, not squander £3,000 on unjustifiable reports. NHS Sefton will debate its options at a board meeting in January.