Health Secretary confirms Infirmary cuts

Date published: 24/08/2007

Health Secretary Alan Johnson MP has today fully endorsed the Independent Reconfiguration Panel recommendations on the Making It Better and the Healthy Futures consultations in Greater Manchester.

"Members of the IRP found the arguments to develop a locality hospital at Rochdale were persuasive. Rochdale should become the hub for a network of intermediate care and community based health services providing urgent care, planned care, outpatient and diagnostic services. A large majority of patients that use Rochdale Infirmary today will continue to do so. In making its recommendations the IRP took into consideration the facts that Rochdale has the smallest catchment population of the four hospitals in the north east of Greater Manchester and the most limited site with the least potential to expand."

Tim Presswood, Chairman of the Healthy Futures Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts said: "The Primary Care Trusts will now begin work, with their colleagues at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and the North West Ambulance Service, on implementing the changes endorsed by the Secretary of State.  This will be done in line with all the IRP’s recommendations, including the specific caveats about prioritising community based services, having robust structures and plans, and ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place for Fairfield’s A&E department. 

"Implementing these changes will be a lengthy process, lasting up to five years, and patients, NHS staff and other stakeholders will be fully engaged throughout.  Full details of our plans for patient engagement will be published in the next couple of months, but I can today announce that we will be conducting an information and engagement roadshow across the north east of Greater Manchester and Rossendale in mid October.  This will be an opportunity for everyone to come along, hear more about what today’s decision means for them and find out how they can get involved in the next stage of the process."

NHS North West Chief Executive  Mike Farrar said: "These are local proposals worked up by local clinicians involving thousands of local people."

He added: "The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has undertaken a thorough and robust review of the two consultations and backs the original proposals. They also make a number of additional recommendations which we endorse.

"I would like to thank all those involved in both consultations for their hard work so far, particularly those clinicians who have given significant amounts of their time to support and lead the process. Today’s decision will ensure that we can provide an improved health service for local people of all ages across Greater Manchester and the surrounding area." 

Sir David Henshaw, Chairman, NHS North West said: "The decision announced today signals the start of the next phase in the improvement of children’s and maternity services in Greater Manchester and health services in general for people who live in the North East of Greater Manchester. This will lead to the provision of better and safer healthcare for everyone.

"We will now begin the process of implementation. This will take time and investment. For these improvements to take place there will be full and continued involvement of everyone including staff, patients and their carers."