Health chief welcomes Labour’s Southport Hospital proposal and sets record straight

The chief executive of the local NHS trust has welcomed a Labour proposal to develop additional NHS walk-in centre services at Southport Hospital.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust chief Silas Nicholls met once again with Labour’s candidate for the town, Liz Savage, to discuss plans for the local hospital and was very positive about Labour’s walk-in centre scheme. 

Such a scheme would enhance the current limited service and facilities to help local residents get access to treatment quicker and also ease pressure on the hospital’s hard-pressed A&E department, which is experiencing a 16% increase in patient demand. 

He also confirmed there was no foundation in claims there was a plan to move hospital services to Skelmersdale and described other reports that Liz Savage was trying to move services from Southport to Ormskirk as “quite incorrect”.  

“The trust is actually looking to expand our services at both Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, to improve patient care locally”, said Mr Nicholls.  

 The pair also discussed the possibility of extending frailty services at the Southport site to help with care for its large percentage of local elderly patients and the need for improvements in community care services. Such services are not now carried out by the hospital but via private contracts.

Liz Savage said the meeting was highly positive:

“Whilst there is disappointment over the government’s refusal to grant the new build funding for the moment, it’s clear that lots of positive work by staff and management is going on to improve conditions at Southport Hospital.”

“They are doing a fantastic job given the £29m deficit they operate under and the staff shortages and site limitations they face.”

“We call on this government once again to finally recognise the problems their underfunding is causing and put money back into Southport Hospital and our local NHS trust – they must listen and act on our calls.” 

“Community services must also be a priority. At present, our hospital has far too many patients still on wards simply because they cannot be released due to a lack of services to support them in the community. It’s short-sighted and shambolic, and its local residents that suffer the government’s failings.”