11:46am Tuesday 3rd August 2010
By Peter Magill
URGENT talks have been requested by politicians in Bacup and Whitworth as Rochdale Infirmary closes its A&E ward doors to blue-light ambulances after 6pm.
Dozens of patients from the Valley are routinely taken to the Greater Manchester hospital each year after suffering serious injuries, as it is usually closer than the next nearest available A&E department at Blackburn.
But bosses at Pennine Acute Trust have announced all emergency ambulances will be diverted to other hospitals, principally Fairfield General Hospital at Bury for the foreseeable future.
Town councillors in Whitworth have already requested talks with Pennine’s chief executive and Lancashire and Rossendale councils, to discuss the full implications of the move, said to have been prompted by a doctor shortage.
Coun Peter Steen, who represents Bacup’s Irwell ward on Rossendale Council and Whitworth division at County Hall, will also press for a more complete explanation.
Coun Steen said: “I have expressed concern all along with this. It needs to remain open.
"It covers such a large area and for people to have to travel to Bury or Blackburn is a non-starter.”
Hospital bosses insist they were acting on “clear senior medical advice” and had consulted fully with NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, the primary care trust, before reaching the decision, which will see ambulances returning to the site after 8am.
Medics say the siutation will be kept under constant review, depending on ongoing efforts to recruit extra doctors, and have confirmed the A&E will be functioning as normal, despite the cutback.
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