Health care on the map (From Warrington Guardian)

Health care on the map

HEALTH bosses have welcomed the 'road map' for Halton and Warrington Hospitals.

Hospital chiefs want to cut emergency admissions at Halton and free up resources there so they can treat more patients with general surgery.

Halton Primary Care trust welcomed the plan at a board meeting last Wednesday.

The trust buys health services off North Cheshire hospitals' trust, who run Warrington and Halton Hospitals.

But the meeting heard Halton Hospital had to stop emergency admissions over Christmas due to a lack of cover.

GP David Lyon told the meeting this "illustrated the weakness in the service at Halton."

He said the 'road map' would: "Bring improvements in terms of clinical care both in terms of emergency care and 'cold' admissions."

The proposed changes would see around 28 patients a week having emergency operations at Warrington instead of Halton, and around 75 patients coming the other way for a wide range of general operations.

The plan has been submitted to Halton Council's health scrutiny board who will decide on January 20 if the changes can be made without the need for a full public consultation.

The meeting also heard that Halton's intensive care unit is still shut.

Trust finance Director Heather Lewis said she believed re-opening it is part of a long-term plan at North Cheshire Hospitals.

The board also heard the hospitals are not going to meet the four hour A&E waiting time target, although Heather Lewis said the managers were using the best methods to try and reach it.