The Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee unanimously agreed to request a call-in to the Secretary of State regarding the NHS Shaping Care Together programme's decision to co-locate adult and children's A&E services at Southport and Formby District General Hospital. The committee expressed concerns about the process followed by the NHS commissioning body and the potential impact of the decision on health services in the area.

NHS Shaping Care Together Programme - Call-In Request to the Secretary of State

The committee considered whether to formally request that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care use their powers to call in the decision made by the NHS Shaping Care Together Joint Committee on 13 March 2026. This decision concerned the reconfiguration of urgent and emergency care services across Southport, Formby, and West Lancashire.

Following extensive discussion, the committee voted unanimously to request a call-in. The grounds for this request were identified as concerns with the process followed by the NHS commissioning body, including the adequacy of consultation and the development of options, and concerns that the decision made is not in the best interests of the health service in its area.

During the debate, councillors raised several points regarding the consultation process and the potential impacts of the decision. Councillor Shaun Crimmins (Local Councillor Decision - Lancaster Rural East) highlighted concerns about the timing of meetings and the perceived lack of adequate responses to questions raised. He also pointed to the disproportionate impact on areas like Skelmersdale, which has a higher proportion of disabled and deprived residents, and questioned the clarity and pre-determination of options.

Councillor Gaynor Hargreaves (Champion for Disabled People, Local Councillor Decision - Oswaldtwistle) expressed concern about the lack of risk assessment for children needing urgent care, particularly given the increased travel time to Southport from areas like Skelmersdale. She also raised concerns about the potential loss of maternity services at Ormskirk Hospital, which she argued go hand-in-hand with children's A&E services.

Councillor Mark Jewell (Local Councillor Decision - Preston South West) questioned the mitigations in place to address increased travel distances, particularly for residents of Skelmersdale. Councillor Mr Russell Walsh noted that the Joint Committee process had concluded, raising questions about further opportunities for scrutiny.

The committee also discussed the adequacy of the consultation process itself. Councillor Crimmins suggested that the consultation started with a preferred option, leading some to disengage as they felt it was a done deal. Councillor Anne Fennell, standing in for Councillor Cummings, noted that some members of the public who wished to respond by post had not received the consultation documents.

The committee agreed to draft a formal letter to the Secretary of State as part of the call-in request, with this decision being unanimous. They also requested that the request be submitted via an online form to ensure it was definitely received.

The NHS Shaping Care Together programme aims to address longstanding urgent and emergency care challenges across Southport, Formby, and West Lancashire. The decision made by the Joint Committee on 13 March 2026 was to co-locate adult and children's A&E services at Southport and Formby District General Hospital. This decision followed a 13-week public consultation. The Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee's call-in request will now be considered by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has the power to intervene in NHS reconfigurations under the Health and Care Act 2022¹.