Cllr David Barton calls for NHS pilot to improve health care for elderly

Councillor David Barton calls for NHS pilot to improve health care for elderly.

A campaigning councillor has called on the Government to use Southport to pilot an NHS initiative aimed at educating families to better care for the elderly.

Cllr David Barton, who represents Dukes Ward on Sefton Council said the town would be perfect for such a scheme, given its high demographic of elderly people, with 65% of people fitting the age category.

Cllr David Barton was speaking after receiving the results of his Freedom of Information request to NHS Southport and Formby Clinical commissioning Group, which he said was aimed at clarifying rumours and untruths about medical provision in the area.

He also criticised opposition councillors for creating a false storm of uncertainty purely political purposes.

Cllr David Barton confirmed that Southport and Formby District General Hospital’s A&E department would not be closing, despite “much hype from opposition councillors.”

He said: “Given Southport’s high elderly demographic of 65% this would be a great national pilot for the Government to fund an initiative aimed at educating families to better care for their elders and for people of all ages to live more healthily, therefore offsetting the high costs and efforts associated with old age.”

Cllr David Barton said he had been contacted by a number of residents regarding the future of the Southport NHS and was reporting back on his findings.

He said: “I am providing an alternative, constructive approach, seeking to work with all the key stakeholders, namely the Government, the general public and the NHS providers to improve this overcrowded system and help it to become more efficient and help maintain a healthy population.

“I am also trying to alleviate the pressures on the NHS so that the elderly can have more priority once again given their contributions to society, so they can enjoy a better quality of life.”

Cllr David Barton said he was continuing to liaise with the NHS to return the Maternity Ward to Southport.

He is also seeking to support the Local Authority with securing funding wherever possible to help alleviate the situation, by negotiating with both Sefton Council and other Governmental Agencies such as the Department of Health.