Stafford hospital: Jeremy Hunt stays silent on town's A&E crisis

The Children's Emergency Centre (CEC) has now been closed for 12 days after an internal investigation by the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust (UHNMT) found there was a lack of staff with specialist training.

More: Breaking - Stafford's A&E to remain closed to children for 10 weeks

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has said the safety issues are likely to take 'weeks, possibly months' to remedy.

• The Express & Star petition to reopen the A&E department at County Hospital to children immediately now has more than 2,600 signatures.

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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been fully briefed on the crisis, which has seen parents denied treatment for their unwell children and forced to undertake lengthy journeys to other hospitals.

But he did not respond to the Express & Star's request for a comment on the closure.

Instead, the Department of Health issued a statement saying it would be working with the UHNMT to restore children's A&E services once safety concerns have been addressed.

"The safety of services must be the top priority of healthcare providers, and any action they take must reflect that," the spokesman said.

"The key thing now is to ensure that everyone involved focuses their energy and commitment on addressing the issues which the trust and the wider system need to take action on, and in this particular example ensure that we do not stray from the recommendations of the Trust Special Administrator without proper consideration or discussion at a local level.

"It is very important there is good engagement with local people, and for all relevant organisations and leaders to work together to find the right way forward for patients, and to get services back up and running safely as soon as possible."

• Have you had to drive your youngster to a hospital miles away after the unit shut its doors?

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Julian Porter, of the Support Stafford Hospital group, said the Government was 'all talk' and accused Mr Hunt of having 'an ulterior motive' over the closure.

"They have their own agenda which is to cut costs," he said. "The silence from Mr Hunt is very frustrating but not surprising.

"We have been let down badly in Stafford by what appears to be attempts to downgrade the hospital."

The Express & Star's petition to reopen the A&E department to children has surged past 2,600.

The closure of the CEC has led to increased strain on other hospitals in the Black Country and Staffordshire, with patients directed to New Cross in Wolverhampton, Walsall Manor and the Princess Royal in Telford for treatment.

Mr Hunt is expected to meet with Staffordshire MPs to discuss the issue in the coming weeks.