MP urged to step up and lead fight to save Stafford hospital children's A&E

The Support Stafford Hospital group said the town's MP is facing the biggest fight of his political career following the shock suspension of the children's A&E department at County Hospital.

The move has sparked an outcry from campaigners, authority leaders and local people.

Two days ago the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust announced it was closing the Children's Emergency Centre at Weston Road indefinitely, because of a lack of staff trained in paediatrics and anaesthetics meant it was not 'clinically safe'.

The department sees around 30 patients under the age of 18 a day. Meanwhile the normal A&E for adults remains open.

In the wake of the decision the Support Stafford Hospital group declared there would be a 'resurgence' of their efforts but today have called on Mr Lefroy to lead the fight.

Cheryl Porter from the group said: "Jeremy Lefroy has got to go straight to Theresa May. This has got to be the hardest battle and fight as an MP he has ever had.

"His legacy needs to be that he leaves us with a wonderful children's A&E service that can support them.

"It is very hard for us to go up against the Government, impossible. The Support Stafford campaign marched 50,000 people (opposing plans to downgrade Stafford Hospital in 2013) and they didn't listen to us.

"It has to be our MP - he is the only person who can do this. He knows he has the town behind him. But if he fails then he has not done his job."

Mrs Porter stressed how important it was Mr Lefroy lobbied the Government for action because the town was home to MoD Stafford.

She added: "We have thousands of soldiers returning to Stafford with young families and children, we have a population of over 200,000. To be a garrison town now without children's services is unthinkable."

George Adamson, the leader of Cannock Chase District Council, has also echoed the calls for Mr Lefroy to step up. He said: "I do think he needs to be more proactive.

"I am very surprised the trust did not feel the need to consult with the local MP. It says a lot about how the trust works. They take actions without consulting with people, it is one of the problems with the NHS.

"But he certainly needs be pressuring the Secretary of State and all of the ministers in the Department of Health to get services restored 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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In response Mr Lefroy told the Express & Star he has already spoken to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, via email, about the closure while he was pressuring the Trust for a timeline on when the emergency centre could reopen.

He said: "I have already met with the consultants responsible for the A&E department, and while I understand they have to make an informed decision and I don't dispute they had to take temporary action I have made it clear we need this to be up and running as soon as possible.

"If the problem is to do with training or experience that needs to be addressed immediately.

"I have also been in touch with the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt and spoken to him about it. Stafford is not the only place this has happened, it is a national problem around a shortage of trained staff particularly around children. So I am raising this at national level and pushing the trust locally."

Mr Lefroy added: "Ironically I was at the hospital on Thursday to see the new chemotherapy suite which is far better than the old one.

"I want to get the message out to people there are positive things going on at Stafford. We are getting in effect a new hospital.

"Clearly the issue around the 30 child patients a day is top of my priority list."

A statement from UHNM said: "Local commissioners and Jeremy Lefroy MP have now been briefed and have asked the trust to provide them with a detailed plan and timescale for next steps as a matter of urgency.

"This will be shared with the public and other stakeholders as soon as it is available."