Call for a rethink on closure of Infirmary services

Rochdale Infirmary

In a rare display of unity, councillors of all three parties, and independent councillor David Murphy (back from his residence in Spain for the meeting) agreed to support a call for an urgent rethink by Health Minister Alan Johnson on the closure of “vital” services at Rochdale Infirmary.

Councillor Keith Swift explained that the figures for the expected number of births in the borough, as quoted in the health service reconfiguration plans in 2007, can now be seen to be wrong. He said: “we know ambulances, sometimes as many as six, are queuing at A&E, and already overstretched staff are having to cope with a 15% increase in demand, and people are even presenting at Rochdale due o the closure of A&E in Burnley.

“We know of patients being held in A&E for as long as six hours as there are no beds available (70+ beds have gone at Rochdale) and Fairfield can not take patients from Rochdale as they too are short of beds.

The Cabinet member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Dale Mulgrew in answering the concerns summed up by Councillor Swift said: “We are now closely watching for further developments associated with the deteriorating situation affecting Burnley General and Royal Blackburn, which went through a configuration a year ago.

“The crisis enveloping these hospitals is as a result of Burnley’s downgrading to an urgent care centre, causing great pressure on Royal Blackburn’s A&E.

“Ambulances are queuing up and responding late to patients and not only is the patient experience compromised, but patients are being placed at risk.

“There are clearly parallels with the evolving situation at the Infirmary, which is due to undergo the same changes in the next couple of years.

“We are awaiting a critical report that will be published later this month by the LCC Health Committee that has set up a study group to investigate the problems being cause din East Lancashire. The findings they present will make interesting reading for all in Rochdale who still contest the decisions relating to the Infirmary.”

Councillor Jean Ashworth, a nurse for 30 years at the Infirmary, and a vociferous opponent of the 'reconfiguration', said she hoped the health minister would look at the figures for the Infirmary and listen to concerns from the public and staff about the volume of patients, which is constantly rising. She said: "to remove these services is going to put the health and well being of people in our borough at risk."

She added: "Our elderly are already suffering long and traumatic delays through a lack of service and a lack of beds and it is a fact that other hospitals in the Pennine Acute Trust just cannot cope with their own areas let alone try to cater for the needs of Rochdale and surrounding areas."

Councillor Ashworth also cited the problems being experienced at Burnley as a result of similar 'reconfiguration' last year, saying: "Staff at Burnley A&E and Burnley councillors are campaigning together against the closures as they have first hand experience of the devastation caused. Rochdale councillors should forget politics and take similar action.

She concluded: "To downgrade the Infirmary is a serious health issue for our borough, we need one voice and one council asking for a serious review on this issue as the figures for all the services quoted in the reconfiguration process in 2007 are seriously worse now and growing, as is our population.

Friends of 'Our Hospital', which is a non-political group, is asking the three party leaders to write to Alan Johnson and join us in our concerns along with all elected members."