Parents in Ormskirk Alarmed Over Children’s A&E Closure Threat

Concerns are mounting among parents in Ormskirk regarding the potential closure of the local children’s Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. This issue arises from ongoing discussions about health services in the Ormskirk and Southport areas, as the Shaping Care Together (SCT) report indicates that no final decision has been reached.

The SCT report follows a consultation process examining whether children’s A&E services will remain in Ormskirk or revert to Southport after more than two decades. Many respondents to the consultation fear that the decision has already been made, with one individual describing the possible closure of Ormskirk’s A&E as “catastrophic.” Despite these fears, SCT maintains that there is no “done deal” regarding Southport Hospital’s future.

In July 2025, the Liverpool ECHO reported on a consultation by the NHS concerning potential cuts to A&E services in either Southport or Ormskirk. Health officials proposed consolidating services at one site to alleviate pressures and enhance round-the-clock emergency care. Two options were presented: the first option would move children’s A&E services to Southport Hospital, while the second would relocate adult A&E services from Southport to Ormskirk, extending the current children’s A&E to a 24-hour operation.

The consultation period concluded on October 3. The results highlighted a preference among participants for keeping services close to home. Many residents from both Southport and Ormskirk expressed a desire to retain local health services and questioned why provisions could not be made to maintain services in both towns.

On March 6, 2025, Sefton Council’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to review a report presented by the integrated care boards (ICB) of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. The ICBs summarized the consultation findings and the programme’s responses in advance of the “Decision Making Business Case” meeting scheduled for March 13.

The SCT report explored the consultation’s outcome and public sentiment, noting: “A significant volume of feedback expressed concern about the perceived neutrality of the consultation.” Many respondents felt that a preferred option, particularly the consolidation of adult and children’s A&E services at Southport Hospital, had been predetermined. They pointed to media coverage, public statements, and changes to cost estimates as factors undermining trust in the process.

One respondent commented: “This consultation was a done deal on the first day you recommended that Southport was the first choice.”

The report also highlighted concerns over the impact on families, particularly regarding travel times for emergency care. One respondent posed a critical question: “Children who stop breathing. Babies who suffer with breathing issues. How would they be able to help parents promptly?” Another remarked, “Closing the A&E would be catastrophic,” while a third added, “Ambulance services cannot cope as it is with some ridiculous waiting times.”

Petitions have emerged in response to these concerns, including one launched by the Our West Lancashire political group, which garnered 2,622 signatures, urging Ashley Dalton MP to oppose the closure of Ormskirk’s children’s A&E. A separate petition led by Southport MP Patrick Hurley calling for a children’s A&E at Southport received 327 signatures.

SCT’s “You Said, We Did” report addressed public unease about the consultation process, stating: “We understand that some respondents, particularly in West Lancashire and Skelmersdale, have expressed concerns about whether the consultation will genuinely influence the final decision, with terms like ‘done deal’ being used. We want to reassure you that this is absolutely not the case.” The report emphasized that the final decision will only be made after a thorough review of all consultation responses, impact assessments, and recommendations.

Cllr John Pugh, a member of the scrutiny meeting, acknowledged the unpopularity of the proposals in West Lancashire, where residents are concerned about losing their children’s A&E department. In contrast, Southport residents view the potential return of services as a restoration of a facility lost in 2003, which had sparked significant protests at the time.

Cllr Pugh remarked: “This is, if it happens, not a simple reversal. The change back to Southport is based on masses of fine-grained clinical data and has a clear rationale. What happened in 2003 was a political stitch-up. Ormskirk will retain an Urgent Care Centre where parents may seek reassurance for minor childhood injuries and symptoms.”

He added that if services were to return to Southport, it would necessitate that West Lancashire Council advocates for improved access to Southport, thus addressing the genuine concerns of parents in the area.