A&E closure puts pressure on neighbouring hospital

The closure of the Accident and Emergency department at Rochdale Infirmary has put additional pressure on a nearby hospital, according to a report.

NHS East Lancashire’s contract with East Lancashire Hospital’s Trust, which run services at The Royal Blackburn Hospital, is £1.7million over budget – an overspend health chiefs have put down to extra pressure following the closure of Rochdale’s A&E in April.

A report given to the Lancashire Cluster board said: “Following the closure of the A&E department at Rochdale Infirmary the activity shifted largely to East Lancashire Hospitals, and consequently the contract held by East Lancashire PCT with East Lancashire Hospitals is overspent.”

NHS East Lancashire which has a total budget of £346.5million, reported that its hospital contract was overspent by a £1.72million and they predict this will rise to £2.61million by March this year.

Rochdale Infirmary’s A&E department closed in April and was replaced by an Urgent Care Centre. The Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides treatment for people who have a minor injury or minor illness.

Those with serious injuries or illnesses now have to visit A&E at other hospitals, including Fairfield General Hospital and The Royal Oldham Hospital.

However, before the closure patients from Whitworth and Rossendale were using A&E at Rochdale because it was closer than Blackburn.