WARRINGTON Hospital’s A&E department could be downgraded by health bosses due to budget cuts – meaning it may cease to be open around the clock.

If proposed changes to the unit go it could result in some of the most serious conditions not being treated at the hospital, while the department may no longer be available 24 hours a day.

Downgrades to a total of three A&E units in Cheshire and Merseyside are being considered as part of ‘sustainability and transformation plans’, with departments at Warrington Hospital, Whiston Hospital, Macclesfield Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital under review.

All 44 healthcare regions in England are currently drawing up five-year sustainability and transformation plans in order to save money, with £909 million cuts required in Cheshire and Merseyside by 2020.

A draft report suggested that Macclesfield Hospital’s A&E department will be turned into a minor injury and illness unit staffed by GPs.

Meanwhile two of Warrington, Knowsley and Southport hospitals would no longer treat some of the most serious conditions or be open around the clock.

Motorists who suffer serious or complex injuries are already sometimes transferred to other specialist hospitals in the region.

But Mel Pickup, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the proposals for the department to be downgraded were at a ‘formative stage’ and would be subject to a public consultation.

She added the trust faced ‘significant challenges over the next five years in finance, tackling poor health and improving care quality.

Ms Pickup said: “Any proposals to change A&E services would have to have a strong clinical evidence base and demonstrate a positive impact in terms of quality, safety and sustainability.

“They would also be subject to public engagement and consultation.

“At this stage ideas are at a formative stage based on input from clinicians and staff.

“It is important that we are open about the significant challenges we will face over the next five years in tackling poor health, improving quality and ensuring these services are sustainable in a period of financial constraint.

“All proposals that will emerge from the sustainability and transformation plans seeks to address these challenges, including the future design of urgent and emergency care.”

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has called for opposition to any plans to downgrade the hospital’s A&E department, labelling the proposals ‘deluded’.

She said: “The report is far from clear on its proposals but any suggestion Warrington’s A&E should be downgraded should be opposed.

“Not only would people have to travel further in an emergency, putting them at risk, but we are a town surrounded by motorways.

“Anyone who believes that an area like this can manage without a 24-hour emergency department is seriously deluded.

“It could only worsen health outcomes for people in my constituency where we already have significant health inequalities.”

A final report is due to be published in the coming weeks.