Spotlight on GPs as fight for Southport’s kids’ walk-in centre kicks on

THOUSANDS of postcards will be distributed to Southport homes demanding the return of kids’ health services to our town.

Campaigners are calling on residents to sign the postcards and send them to their GPs, who, from 2013, will have responsibility for commissioning local health services.The soon-to-be-abolished primary care trust NHS Sefton last year ditched a promised minor injuries unit for children, to be based at Southport hospital, over “clinical safety” fears.


The facility was controversially deemed financially unviable by healthcare experts.

Ahead of a PCT meeting this Friday, where it is understood that several alternative options will be put forward, MP John Pugh has urged concerned parents to take the fight straight to their family doctor.

The Lib Dem said: “From 2013, GPs will have the money and the power and the PCT will not exist anymore.

“Doctors will have the say on what services they budget for in Southport and we need to get the message firmly across that a children’s walk-in centre is our top priority.

“If the public want childrens' facilities to change and to end the nonsense of any sprain, cut and minor injury case necessitating a trip to Ormskirk, they must let the GPs know.”

England’s 152 PCTs currently manage around 80% of the £105bn NHS budget. But under a radical Government shake-up, GPs will soon hold the purse strings.

Cllr Sue McGuire, a mother-of-two, said: “Because of the changes we’ve now got the opportunity to lobby the GPs for change. They will be taking decisions about what services they are going to spend money on for the residents of Southport.

“What we want to do is send them a very strong message that we want a minor injuries unit for children. This is an opportunity for people to let the GPs of Southport know their views.”

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2011/01/19/spotlight-on-gps-as-fight-for-southport-s-kids-walk-in-centre-kicks-on-101022-28007961/