Leaked letter proves midnight closures likely

Paul Rowen with the letter from the hospital

A leaked letter sent to all staff at Rochdale Infirmary has exclusively revealed that midnight closures of its A&E department are likely later this year.

The letter was recently sent by John Saxby, the Chief Executive of the Pennine Acute Hospital Trust.

In the letter, Mr Saxby states that with the A&E department due to be downgraded to an Urgent Care Unit in 2011, staff will need to be trained which could take up to 18 months.

Mr Saxby goes on to explain that the options currently being considered for this include the recruitment of temporary additional staff, allowing staff to be released for the additional training needed.

However the Trust has also admitted to looking into closing the A&E department to emergency cases between 11pm and 8am as another option stating that this would allow rotas to be rearranged so the staff can then be released for training.

This comes after Lib Dem Councillor Jean Ashworth recently pressured the Trusts Director Tom Wildern into admitting that midnight closures are an option after he previously denied any such plans were in place.

Rochdale’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Paul Rowen said: “This letter is yet further proof that we will see our A&E Unit closed from midnight later this year.

“Everybody knows that in an emergency seconds count. To close our A&E Department from midnight would be a disaster that would literally cost lives.

“I’m sure parents and grandparents across Rochdale will be horrified at the thought of travelling all the way to Oldham and Manchester to receive emergency treatment for their sick children.”