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Trust hits back at Peter Hayes’ fierce criticism

Jenny Kirby
5/ 7/2006

EAST Cheshire NHS Trust has hit back at fierce criticism from its former chairman that it did not protest enough to try to keep women and children's services at Macclesfield Hospital.

No decisions have yet been made regarding the Making It Better review, but Peter Hayes says he is still "surprised and disappointed at the lack of any apparent attempt by the hospital trust to fight its own corner".

Mr Hayes, who headed up the trust until 2000, said: "It seemed resigned to losing maternity and the children's services even before the consultation process began.

"Near the end of four months campaigning the trust seemed to realise that it was expected to do something for itself instead of rely on its patients and others to keep it going.

"By then it was too little but I hope not too late."

The trust say they are "disappointed" by Mr Hayes' comments and have been actively involved in the Making It Better consultation process.

A spokeswoman said: "It has held numerous discussions with Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust as well as the network in Manchester, which is leading the consultation. As a result of these discussions the trust was accepted as an option for future delivery of children's services in the network's first set of proposals.

"When the trust was subsequently removed from the options, the chief executive personally presented a paper to the Joint Committee of PCTs which led to the reinstatement of the trust as an option - Option D."

She added that Macclesfield Hospital consultants held meetings with clinicians and managers from Manchester to make the case for continued provision at East Cheshire NHS Trust.

"The trust believes it has thus far worked effectively within the processes set out by the Joint Committee of PCTs to ensure that the residents of East Cheshire were able to put forward their comments on options which include East Cheshire," she said.

The trust also thanked the large numbers of people who have supported Macclesfield Hospital and reassured them the trust's role in the future provision of children's services with the Children's and Young People's Network continues to be discussed.