Councillor Urges Return of 24-Hour Children's A&E Care to Southport Hospital
Councillor Mike Prendergast: “Let’s Bring Children’s A&E back to Southport”
Conservative Group Leader on Sefton Council, Mike Prendergast has put forward a motion for the forthcoming Sefton Council meeting at Bootle Town Hall calling for the return of full 24-hour emergency care services at Southport Hospital, including a dedicated Children’s A&E department.
Since 2003, Southport has been without full emergency care services. Children needing urgent care are currently sent to Ormskirk Hospital, with the nearest service between midnight and 8am then only available in Liverpool.
The motion follows the publication of proposals from the Shaping Care Together Joint Committee, which has put forward two options for the future of local emergency services. Crucially, the Committee has stated a preference for both Adult and Children’s A&E services to be located at Southport Hospital on a 24-hour basis.
Cllr Prendergast said, “For far too long, families in Southport and across Sefton have had to endure unacceptable gaps in local emergency care provision. The lack of a Children’s A&E in Southport puts added pressure on parents and risks delays in treatment when every second counts.”
“As a father of two who has made that journey to Children’s A&E, from Southport to Ormskirk Hospital, I know it can easily take over 30 minutes to get there and from speaking to many people about this issue, I know Southport families want to see this change.”
“The campaign to get Chiodren’s A&E back in Southport has been going on many years, involving many people.”
“The last motion we brought forward on Southport Hospital, prior to the Joint Committee’s recommendation, was unanimously backed by councillors from across all political parties in Sefton, showing that there is cross-party unity on this issue.”
“Now we need to turn that unity into action. Further cross party support will add to the weight of opinion and show we are all speaking with one voice.”
“The Joint Committee’s preferred option is clear, Southport is the right location for full emergency services. We must seize this opportunity to bring Children’s A&E back to Southport Hospital alongside Adult A&E.“
The motion, to be debated at Sefton Councilcalls for:
• Formal support for the proposal to co-locate Adult and Children’s A&E services at Southport Hospital on a 24-hour basis.
• A formal Council response to the ongoing public consultation, endorsing Southport as the location for full emergency services.
• Encouragement for residents and stakeholders across Sefton to make their voices heard in the consultation.
Cllr Prendergast added, “This is the moment Southport has been waiting for. I urge everyone to take part in the consultation and make it clear that Southport Hospital must once again provide the full emergency care service, including Children’s A&E, that our town needs.”
The consultation is open until midnight on Friday 3rd October 2025, and responses can be submitted via: https://yoursayshapingcaretogether.co.uk/consultation-survey-2025/surveys/consultation-survey-on-proposals-for-urgent-and-emergency-care-services.