WARRINGTON Hospital’s A&E department could be downgraded by health bosses due to budget cuts and possibly no longer open around the clock.

Proposed changes could mean that the most serious conditions would not be treated at the hospital, while the department may no longer be available 24 hours a day.

Halton MP Derek Twigg has blasted the proposal and accused the government of failing to invest in the NHS.

He said: “I can’t see how they can do this given the demand in this area for A&E.

“The issue is that the NHS is under funded.

“The government has not increased funding to take account of the greater demands on the NHS.

“Adult social care is a serious problem.”

Downgrades to three A&E units in Cheshire and Merseyside are being considered as part of sustainability and transformation plans, with hospital departments at Warrington, Whiston, Macclesfield, Southport and Formby Hospital under review.

All 44 healthcare regions in England are currently drawing up five-year schemes to save money, with £909m cuts required in Cheshire and Merseyside by 2020.

A draft sustainability and transformation plan report suggested that Macclesfield Hospital’s A&E department will be turned into a minor injury and illness unit staffed by GPs.

Meanwhile two of Warrington, Knowsley and Southport hospitals would no longer treat the most serious conditions or be open around the clock.

Mr Twigg added: “There is talk of Warrington closing at midnight with everyone being directed to Whiston.

“I believe this is all funding driven rather than service driven.

“I have raised this issue several times and will continue to keep up the pressure.

“The government makes a big play about involving the public and patients but they have been hiding this away.”

NHS bosses have played down talk of immediate closures of A&E departments, with a final sustainability and transformation plan report due to be published in the coming weeks.

Mel Pickup, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that the proposals for the department to be downgraded were at a ‘formative stage’ and would be subject to a public consultation.

She added that ‘significant challenges’ were faced over the next five years in finance, tackling poor health and improving care quality.

Ms Pickup said: “Any proposals to change A&E services would have to have a strong clinical evidence base and demonstrate a positive impact in terms of quality, safety and sustainability.

“They would also be subject to public engagement and consultation.

“At this stage ideas are at a formative stage based on input from clinicians and staff.

“It is important that we are open about the significant challenges we will face over the next five years in tackling poor health, improving quality and ensuring these services are sustainable in a period of financial constraint.

“All proposals that will emerge from the sustainability and transformation plans seeks to address these challenges, including the future design of urgent and emergency care.”