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Stafford children's A&E suspension: County Hospital campaigners take fight to Downing Street

Hospital campaigners have vowed to take the fight to reopen children's emergency services at Stafford straight to the Prime Minister.

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The shock suspension of A&E services for under-18s at County Hospital has prompted an immediate 'resurgence' of the Support Stafford Hospital group, organisers have declared.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) announced yesterday that it does not have enough specially-trained staff and the department is 'clinically unsafe' for youngsters. As a result the children's centre at Weston Road has been closed.

Julian Porter, who spearheads the Support Stafford Hospital group, said: "It is outrageous it has been closed and outrageous this situation was allowed to happen in the first place.

"It means they haven't had the staff needed all this time.

Watch acting medical director Dr John Oxtbody explain the decision to shut:

"This will be another downgrade, Stafford people lose out again, we are the second class citizens. It is absolutely disgusting.

"We are going to take this to Theresa May because Jeremy Hunt has not done anything.

"There is going to be a resurgence of the Support Stafford Hospital campaign now."

Mr Porter declared that the group warned County Hospital did not have the proper back-up staff required to be safe for children.

He added: "Stafford is not a full-blown A&E. It hasn't got the anaesthetists, it hasn't got the critical care to deal with children specifically. They should have the paediatric nurses.

"The plans were passed by UHNM, and implemented by the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and since then the Care Quality Commission has been in.

"We kept telling them we did not think it was safe but they did not listen."

Andrew Donald, accountable officer of Stafford and Surrounds, Cannock Chase and South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Groups, said he was in talks with the trust to ensure the suspension was lifted as soon as possible.

He said: "The trust has notified the CCGs of their decision to temporarily suspend accident and emergency services at County Hospital in Stafford for children and people under the age of 18, following clinical feedback.

"We have been working with the trust to seek assurance that the matter is being dealt with swiftly and that robust interim measures have been put in place, to offer alternative services to the patients affected.

"Our top priority is to ensure that patients are able to access safe and quality care and we will be monitoring the situation, working with the trust, to ensure that the issues are resolved as quickly as possible."

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