Call for hospital to quit trust

OLDHAM Council leader Jim McMahon has been urged to support an appeal to break-up the Pennine Acute Trust.

The Trust runs the Royal Oldham Hospital as well as hospitals in Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester.

Rochdale Council leader Councillor Colin Lambert said the trust should not run four hospital sites and Rochdale Infirmary should break away from its control.

He has appealed to the leaders of Oldham, Bury and Manchester councils to support his case.

Councillor Lambert said: “The Pennine Acute Trust was always too big and, in the best interest of Rochdale Infirmary, we need a clean fresh start.

“Rochdale is not best served within the trust, it should be clear about what is remaining at the hospital.

“All four hospitals serve our residents across Rochdale and we want the best deal for all four sites.”

Since April, the infirmary’s accident and emergency department has been downgraded, maternity and children’s ward closed, and inpatient and acute services transferred out.

Councillor Lambert said he has received a response from Manchester leader Richard Leese but not from Oldham leader councillor McMahon or Bury leader councillor Mike Connolly.

A trust spokesman said changes to services at Rochdale Infirmary were part of both the Healthy Futures and Making it Better reviews which were approved by the then Secretary of State in 2007.

He said staff in the trust provide high quality and safe services to patients on a daily basis and that should be applauded.

Councillor McMahon could not be contacted for a comment.