West Lancashire Borough Council has vowed to challenge a decision to move the children’s Accident and Emergency department at Ormskirk Hospital to Southport Hospital.

The decision by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICBs to combine children's and adult's A&E services at Southport Hospital was announced last month.

Neil Eccles, director of planning, economy & wellbeing said: ‘Health and wellbeing is a key priority of the council, so scrutinising the processes undertaken to reach this decision is crucial to ensure full transparency for our residents.

‘I will write to the NHS Joint Committee to formally set out the concerns raised by members and share this with other relevant parties like scrutiny bodies and members of Parliament. The council can consider its next steps once a response has been received.'

At a meeting on 19 April councillors said the proposed changes were not in the best interests of health service provision in West Lancashire, adding they will take any and all further steps or actions in relation to challenging the decision, including but not limited to the consideration of a call-in, support for other call-in requests, appeal, complaint or judicial review, as appropriate.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB's chief commissioning officer, Craig Harris, said: ‘We are aware of the motion passed by West Lancashire Borough Council and will respond to any future correspondence in line with our processes and governance.

‘The joint committee of the two ICBs made the decision to co-locate adult and children's A&E at Southport Hospital based on the public consultation findings alongside clinical, financial, equalities, workforce and quality evidence. The decision was about making sure there is a 24/7 emergency department for both adults and children at the same site which will safely and sustainably deliver emergency care for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire.

‘Ormskirk Hospital will remain open and continue to provide key services to patients, including outpatient services, urgent treatment, planned care, diagnostics and inpatient services. There is active investment planned for the site and it's vital to remember that currently 86% of activity is not A&E. Following the outcome of the consultation, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has committed to exploring the possibility of upgrading the walk-in centre in Skelmersdale to an urgent treatment centre.'

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.