MACCLESFIELD Hospital will not lose its A&E department, according to health and care chiefs.

Following major concerns over proposals to scrap the services and replace them with an ‘Urgent Care Centre’ health leaders and commissioners have moved to provide clarity over future plans.

Members of the East Cheshire NHS Trust, which runs Macclesfield Hospital, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG, GPs, Cheshire East Council and NHS England have been working together in the ‘Caring Together’ programme to find a solution to ‘ensure services are sustainable and bring about real improvements to standards of care.

Neil Goodwin, independent chair of the Eastern Cheshire Caring Together programme, said: “There has already been significant public engagement on this.

“The clear view is that the best model of care will include an A&E department at Macclesfield staffed by hospital doctors and clinicians. It is important that the Caring Together Board, working with local people and partners, now concentrates on ensuring we have a local care system which is as effective, efficient and innovative as possible.”

Knutsford MP George Osborne and Macclesfield David Rutley met last Monday to discuss how to secure the hospital’s future after residents voiced fears of closure.

As of yet, no details have been released regarding the overall plan, but it has been confirmed that the A&E department will not be downgraded and will continue to operate in its present form.

Dr Paul Bowen, CCG clinical chair, said: “All partners have confirmed their commitment to this model. This allows us to focus on further transforming and integrating health and care services. I hope this provides assurance for both patients and staff.”