Jane Kennedy, MP

JANE Kennedy has won an important victory for Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital - after a top level meeting with Health Secretary, Andy Burnham.

She says there is 'no support' for a new 'Super Unit' to handle burns cases, based in Manchester.

Jane arranged a special meeting for local MPs to meet Health Secretary, Andy Burnham last night to discuss the Burns Unit and the implications for intensive care beds at both Whiston and Alder Hey Hospitals.

Although it was a private meeting, the MPs were pleased that the Secretary of State believed that the Burns Review’s proposals did not meet the Department of Health's requirements before major changes were introduced to services. There was also concern that any move did not enjoy the support of doctors and there were not sufficient guarantees about maintaining the quality of future services.

After the meeting, Jane Kennedy MP said “The debate amongst doctors about how best to treat critically ill burns patients will continue, I am sure, but the idea of a “Super Unit” based in Manchester is not supported.

"I am very re-assured by the outcome of our meeting. The Secretary of State cancelled other business to meet us and was very sympathetic to the concerns we raised.

"We were clear that we wanted the Review to be ended. The uncertainty has gone on too long. The Review hasn’t proved its case to either clinical or public opinion. Andy Burnham agreed that clinicians need to know what the future holds for their service.”

The decision about whether to reject the Review’s proposals lies with the North West Strategic Health Authority. Officials are unimpressed with the Review’s findings, with senior figures saying that “the case for these changes has not been made”.

Jane and other MPs are working with local hospital officials and councils, led by Cllr Marie Rimmer of St Helens MBC, to examine the proposals. They are now confident that the changes will not go ahead.