Phased re-opening of Chorley Emergency Department on reduced hours basis

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Dear colleagues,

I am writing to update you on progress towards the re-opening of Chorley and South Ribble Emergency Department (ED).

As you know, on 21 September, Board took a decision that although great progress had been made across all work-streams we were not yet in a position to re-open the ED due to insufficient numbers of senior decision makers having been recruited to run the department safely. We were very clear that we remain completely committed to the re-opening and would continue to work towards this. Our recruitment campaign and the booking of the agency and locum staff have continued and at our Board Meeting on 1 October we were able to confirm that further substantive appointments had been made. Subsequently further work has taken place with NHSEI to consider whether we can implement a bridging plan to phase the re-opening of Chorley ED.

Board met yesterday to discuss progress and I am pleased to say that we have agreed that we will be in a position to re-open Chorley ED on 2 November. Initially we will receive patients from 8am to 5pm and once we are assured that the recruitment of senior decision makers has progressed sufficiently we will extend the opening hours to 8am to 8pm.

The risks associated with reopening the ED at CDH have now been sufficiently mitigated due to the recruitment of additional locum and substantive staff who can provide cover on a phased and reduced hours basis. Adults and children will continue to have access to the 24/7 Urgent Care Centre at Chorley, however a child or young person needing A&E services will be taken to Preston to ensure that children and young people get the best care in the right place.

I’d like to once again thank all staff from across the Trust who have and continue to work to reinstate the Emergency Department at Chorley, particularly the ED team themselves all of whom have worked additional shifts throughout this pandemic and continue to do so.

We will keep you updated.