HEALTH bosses have been accused of submitting Halton Hospital to the 'death of 1,000 cuts'.

Halton Borough Council leader Tony McDermott has promised the authority will fight the transfer of services from Halton to Warrington Hospital.

And Cllr McDermott says he believes the North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust's ultimate aim is to close Halton for good.

He said: 'The claim that the Government's agenda for the NHS is 'patient-led' is a sick joke.

'Halton has a high incidence of heart attacks and strokes. It really does stand out. And yet we are talking about moving cardiology and critical beds to Warrington - it doesn't make sense and it is something we must resist.

'This is a path which, in my opinion, can only end with the closure of Halton Hospital. The hospital is being allowed to die the death of 1,000 cuts.

'We are told there is only one hospital spread over two sites. But the Warrington site is asset-stripping the Halton site.'

The move to resist the shake-up of services received cross-party support at the council's executive board committee.

Now councillors are to draw up a battle plan for a meeting with trust chief executive Ann Marr and hospital consultants.

They will be asking for answers to these five questions when they meet Ms Marr on February 21:

What services will be available at Halton?

How accessible will these services be to the public?

What will be done to improve transport to Warrington Hospital?

Is this the end of the process or just the start?

If the proposals do go ahead, how will they be funded?

Liberal Democrat leader Mike Hodkinson said: 'We have got to resist any future asset-stripping and any overall reduction of services in Halton.'

Cllr Dave Cargill added: 'The transport links to Warrington are just not good enough.

'There are obstacles like the swing bridge, the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Bridgefoot, where there is congestion throughout the day.

'One you get to Warrington Hospital, it is impossible to park. Accessibility is vitally important.'

Top medic on team

COUNCIL chiefs are to consider appointing one of Britain's most senior medics to fight their corner against a shake-up of services at Halton Hospital.

British Medical Association (BMA) chairman James Johnson says the Runcorn hospital has been 'asset-stripped' by North Cheshire Hospitals Trust to prop up cash-strapped Warrington General.

And Mr Johnson believes Halton must be separated from Warrington Hospital if it is to survive.

Mr Johnson, a heart surgeon at Halton, said: 'Since the merger with Warrington Hospital in 2001, Halton Hospital has been persistently asset-stripped in order to salvage the desperate financial situation of Warrington.

'The latest proposals amount to closure of most of the remaining inpatient services and the acute medical wards and probable redundancies.

'We believe that it is vital to the survival of Halton Hospital and the continuation of hospital services in Runcorn and Widnes that an urgent separation is effected between Warrington and Halton hospitals.'

Now council bosses are to contact Mr Johnson and ask him to represent the authority during talks with trust chief executive Ann Marr.

Ms Marr denies the decision had been motivated purely by financial concerns.

She said: 'In key specialities such as heart services and strokes, we could improve patient care considerably by concentrating these services at one hospital.

'New services will be developed at Halton and it will continue to have inpatient services.'

Reasons for change

A CASH crisis is among the reasons for North Cheshire Hospitals Trust moving some services from Halton to Warrington.

The trust is currently running at a deficit of more than £6m.

Chief executive Ann Marr says doctors and other medical experts were also instrumental in recommending the changes.

She said: 'Our whole emphasis is on the best and safest health service for patients.

'This is an opportunity for us to get it right and give both Halton and Warrington hospitals a real and secure future.'

Ms Marr says the pressures facing the trust include:

An elderly population;

Increasing chronic diseases;

Working hours restrictions;

A drive to reduce waiting times;

An increased focus on shared services; and

A reduction in the growth of NHS spending.