The Council has decided to align Ormskirk Hospital with Lancashire NHS structures to strengthen democratic oversight and ensure local residents have a clear champion within wider strategic planning.

URL: https://democracy.westlancs.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=624

Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The following Altered Motion was moved and seconded, with the agreement of the meeting:   "This Council Notes: Ormskirk Hospital is physically located within Lancashire and serves as the principal acute hospital for West Lancashire, yet its strategic governance falls under the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB). Yet the NHS arrangements affecting the hospital span more than one geography, with the provider principally aligned to NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB while healthcare services for West Lancashire residents are commissioned by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB. The government's upcoming local government reorganisation is expected to establish new unitary authority structures across Lancashire, creating a critical window to align public service boundaries. As West Lancashire sits outside the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, regional bodies lack a direct strategic or economic incentive to prioritise the infrastructure and transport links that support access to Ormskirk Hospital. This Council Believes: Local accountability is severely weakened when major health provisions operate within administrative structures that do not align with local government borders. Future healthcare delivery increasingly depends on the seamless integration of acute hospital care with adult social care, housing, and public health, all of which are Lancashire-managed services. Aligning Ormskirk Hospital with Lancashire NHS structures would strengthen democratic oversight, remove unnecessary complexity, and make sure Lancashire residents have a clear champion within wider strategic planning. There is merit in reviewing whether existing governance and commissioning arrangements provide West Lancashire residents with an appropriate voice in decisions affecting their principal acute hospital. This Council Resolves: To formally request that NHS England together with the Department of Health and Social Care undertake a comprehensive review of the strategic alignment of the governance, commissioning and accountability arrangements affecting Ormskirk Hospital and West Lancashire residents, assessing whether residents would be better served under Lancashire NHS strategic and commissioning arrangements. To seek ironclad assurances that any future healthcare governance adjustments reflect the new Lancashire local government structures without detriment to frontline patient care. To establish a cross-party working group to: ·       gather evidence from residents, healthcare professionals, and NHS stakeholders regarding the future governance of the hospital. ·       submit the findings of that work to NHS England, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and relevant local government reorganisation bodies. ·       reaffirm this Council's commitment to protecting and enhancing healthcare services for West Lancashire residents and ensuring that local voices are properly represented in decisions affecting those services. To request that the Leader of the Council write to the Chief Executive of NHS England, the Chief Executives of the relevant Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, local Members of Parliament, and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to communicate the contents of this motion and request a formal response."   An Amendment, circulated prior to the meeting was moved and seconded.   A vote was taken on the Amendment, which was CARRIED.   A vote was taken on the Substantive Motion, which was CARRIED.   RESOLVED:   A.    That this Council notes:   (i)          Ormskirk Hospital is physically located within Lancashire and serves as the principal acute hospital for West Lancashire, yet its strategic governance falls under the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB).  (ii)         The government's upcoming local government reorganisation is expected to establish new unitary authority structures across Lancashire, creating a critical window to align public service boundaries.  (iii)       As West Lancashire sits outside the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, regional bodies lack a direct strategic or economic incentive to prioritise the infrastructure and transport links that support access to Ormskirk Hospital.    B.    This Council Believes:   (i)              Local accountability is severely weakened when major health provisions operate within administrative structures that do not align with local government borders.  (ii)             Future healthcare delivery increasingly depends on the seamless integration of acute hospital care with adult social care, housing, and public health, all of which are Lancashire-managed services.  (iii)           Aligning Ormskirk Hospital with Lancashire NHS structures would strengthen democratic oversight, remove unnecessary complexity, and make sure Lancashire residents have a clear champion within wider strategic planning.    C.    That NHS England be requested to undertake a comprehensive review of the strategic alignment of Ormskirk Hospital, assessing whether residents would be better served under Lancashire NHS strategic and commissioning arrangements.  D.    That ironclad assurances be sought that any future healthcare governance adjustments reflect the new Lancashire local government structures without detriment to frontline patient care.    E.    That the Council's commitment to protecting and enhancing healthcare services for West Lancashire residents and ensuring that local voices are properly represented in decisions affecting those services, be reaffirmed.   F.    That the Leader of the Council write to the Chief Executive of NHS England, the Chief Executives of the relevant Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), local Members of Parliament, and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to communicate the contents of this motion and request a formal response  

Date of Decision: July 15, 2026