Children's services to close at Stafford hospital in May

The transfer date was revealed to members of Cannock Chase Council's health scrutiny committee this week.

The children's inpatient services at the Weston Road hospital will be split between Royal Stoke University Hospital and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

It follows a decision to dissolve Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Already, consultant-led maternity services have moved from County Hospital to Stoke, while emergency trauma surgery ended in February.

Dr. Jonathon Odum, medical director at Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust said: "It is an emotive subject, but we have provisions in place for extra beds and extra nursing staff."

Health boss Mr Sultan Mahmud added: "The transfer of services in January and February was successful, with a high level of scrutiny to assure the public we are ready to take on this level of work."

Campaigners fighting to keep the services at the town's hospital have voiced their disgust at the transfer of another service.

Karen Howell, National Health Action Party parliamentary candidate for Stafford said: "It is a disaster.

"I am very concerned for parents and children in this town, who will no longer have this facility on hand in Stafford. They are removing every service we need."

Support Stafford Hospital co-founder Cheryl Porter also condemned the move ,calling it 'criminal' and 'immoral'

She said: "It is not the right thing to move the service and the safety of children is not being put first.

"The surrounding hospitals do not have the capacity, that was proved when they moved emergency services. This will affect children in all areas, not just Stafford. The safety of children in Wolverhampton and Stoke will be at risk too.

"It is all rush, rush, rush and it is simply criminal and immoral what they are doing .We are not being listened to. I very much fear for our children and their future."

A number of other services not yet revealed will be transferred later this summer.

County Hospital is now run by the new University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust after a merger with the University Hospital of North Staffordshire Trust in an entire process costing £19.5 million.

An extraordinary public board meeting is set to take place today at County Hospital to sign off the move of paediatric services.