Councillor asks SHA to justify latest A&E plans

Jean Ashworth, local councillor and employee of the Pennine NHS Trust at Rochdale Infirmary, has hit out at the exclusion of Rochdale Infirmary from plans announced to provide three Greater Manchester Hospitals with dedicated A&E units for children.

She said: "As a Councillor for Rochdale Borough I await the outcome of the Infirmary's future with many concerns, and wonder why plans to provide A&E units for 'sick children' at three Greater Manchester Hospitals are to be set up at Bolton Royal Hospital, Salford's Hope Hospital and Trafford General Hospital at a cost of £1million for each unit.

"Whilst I agree with these units, and can see the benefits, again there is no mention in their plans for Rochdale, Bury or Oldham."

The Strategic Health Authority (SHA) said: "this was something that came out of the consultation on a new children's hospital on the Manchester Royal Infirmary site a couple of years ago. The overwhelming thinking was that children should not have to see some things that go on in an adult emergency ward and should be given a place of their own." They added: "It does not affect the 'Making it Better' review of the Maternity and Paediatric wards across Greater Manchester."

Cllr Ashworth asks the SHA: "what about the sick children of Rochdale, Bury and Oldham, and surrounding areas such as Heywood, Middleton, Todmorden and Rossendale?" She added: "all we got was 'Doctor Tilly's Big Idea' of nursing our children at home - at a cost of £95.000 for publication of a booklet aimed at 5 to 11 year olds.

"The Government's white paper clearly states 'Every Child Matters', it is clear ours are being forgotten."