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Night time Closure of Adult Accident & Emergency Department at Ormskirk & District General Hospital
FROM Tuesday 1 February 2005 the Adult Accident & Emergency Department at Ormskirk & District General Hospital will be closed between 11.00pm and
8.00am.
Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust said that:- "At all times our priority is to ensure the provision of safe services to the public. The Trust is experiencing severe staffing difficulties and whilst we have done everything to address the situation, including an extensive recruitment campaign, it has proved very difficult to attract suitably qualified staff.
Staff working in Adult Accident & Emergency are doing a magnificent job, but increasingly the burden of providing a 24-hour service with low staffing levels is taking its toll. Regrettably to allow us to increase staff rotas during the day and evening shifts when the unit is most busy, we need to close Adult Accident & Emergency Services at Ormskirk throughout the night.
In discussions with our health partners, we have agreed that for reasons of patient safety we can only continue to provide a night time Adult Accident & Emergency Service at Ormskirk up to 31st January 2005. Plans are being made to ensure people are aware of the changes and clear about how to access services. Information will be widely distributed in the New Year through local newspapers, the Hospital website, poster campaigns and local Health premises such as clinics and hospitals."
Jonathan Parry, Chief Executive stated:- "In order to minimise disruption to the public, ambulance services and neighbouring Trusts, patients referred by their GP will be admitted directly to a ward at Ormskirk & District General Hospital. I must emphasise that Adult Accident & Emergency Services will remain unchanged during the day and evening. Paediatric Accident & Emergency remains totally unaffected and will continue to be fully operational 24 hours a day."
Dr Charlie Scott, Lead Clinician A&E Services added:- "The early closure at Ormskirk hospital has been dictated by staffing levels and in turn by safety issues, which must remain paramount. In our planning, Ormskirk Adult A & E Department was due to close in June 2005, but closing in February at night will give us the opportunity to provide safe staffing levels between the hours of 8.00 am and 11.00 pm, which is the busiest time for A&E departments"
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