Stafford County Hospital children's A&E: Campaigners brand latest date bombshell a disgrace
The announcement that there is to be no children's emergency services in Stafford for the rest of the year has been branded a 'disgrace' by campaigners.
The Children's Emergency Centre at County Hospital has been suspended since August 25 when it was declared 'clinically unsafe' due to a lack staff trained in paediatrics and anaesthetics.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is now conducting a review of what can safely be provided at the Weston Road site which was initially expected to be completed by the end of November.
But on Tuesday it was announced it would not be finished until early 2017 meaning a decision on fully re-instating emergency care for children has also been delayed.
It comes has the Express & Star's campaign for services to be reopened immediately approaches 7,000 backers.
Julian Porter, from the Support Stafford Hospital group, said: "It is an absolute disgrace.
"What is the matter with these people. It is beyond belief.
"The problems were highlighted in early July. They know what they have to do.
"There must be another A&E in the country with guidelines on how it needs to be run so why can't they sort it out sooner?
"Next they will have problems with recruitment when they should have done this properly in the first place."
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust confirmed rapid access clinics, where GPs can refer young patients for an appointment at County Hospital within 24-hours, had been brought back on Monday.
While a minor injuries unit, which the trust say will cater for 80 per cent of typical attendances including those with broken bones, is due to be reinstated by mid-October.
Although Mr Porter warned that would bring its own problems.
He said: "It is going to be worse in some ways than having nothing at all.
"They could open a MIU up tomorrow.
"But parents won't know what they can and can't take their children to Stafford for. It will cause confusion."
Meanwhile he said parents were still reporting their horrendous experiences of taking their children to Stafford only to be turned away.
He said: "It is still happening. Again this week there has been a number of occasions where people are still unaware and have gone to the hospital.
"They are angry. They are distressed as it is and then they have got to travel another 17 miles. You can understand where they are coming from."
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