Southport MP Patrick Hurley and Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson have expressed their delight at the publication of NHS plans confirming that the preferred option for emergency care across the area is to bring adult and children’s A&E services together at Southport Hospital, ending more than two decades of fragmented provision across two sites.
Since 2003, adults requiring emergency care have had to travel to Southport Hospital while children have been treated at Ormskirk District General Hospital, a split that has long been a source of frustration for local families and a concern for clinicians working across both sites.
More than 5,000 people responded to the Shaping Care Together public consultation, with thousands more taking part in engagement events across the region. An independent analysis found strong public support for consolidating services at the Southport site, alongside clinical evidence that a single combined department would improve patient safety, staffing resilience and the quality of care.
Pending approval of the decision, Southport hospital is set to receive £33m to help support the moving of children’s services and ensure improvements to existing adult care services as well. In addition to this, up to 350 new car parking spaces are set to be announced to help accommodate new visitors to the hospital.
The final decision will be taken by the NHS joint committee at a public meeting at Ormskirk Civic Hall on 13 March 2026. Mr Esterson and Mr Hurley will continue to work with local NHS leaders and community groups to ensure the proposal is approved and that implementation plans prioritise the needs of patients across both constituencies.
Patrick Hurley MP said:
“For too long, families across Southport have been let down by a system that asked them to travel between two hospitals in some of the most stressful moments of their lives. The clinical evidence, the public response, and the views of local people have all pointed in the same direction, and today’s publication confirms that the NHS has listened.”
“This has been a long campaign, and I am grateful to everyone who responded to the consultation, attended public meetings, and made their voices heard, including Bill and his constituents across Sefton Central. The case for Southport is clear, and I urge the joint committee to take this final step and formally approve the preferred option when they meet on 13 March.”
Bill Esterson MP said:
“I’m increasingly optimistic that the NHS Trust will make the right decision and restore a 24/7 Children’s A&E at Southport. That would be hugely welcome news for residents across Sefton Central – especially families in Ainsdale, Formby, Ince Blundell and Hightown – who need reliable emergency services close to home.”
“The plans for a new health centre in Maghull are also increasingly likely with the government funding for the NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside. Across my Sefton Central and Southport, NHS services are being improved and I am thrilled at the good news.”
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