ON 13 September 2025, local man and Chief Executive of Kirkby care provider Caring Connections Paul Growney will walk 26 miles in a weighted vest from:- Southport to Otterspool to raise funds for suicide prevention charity James' Place. The event is organised by Caring Connections and Brian Lightbody, from Lightbody Health CIC; a community organisation focused on improving health and wellness.

The initiative, now in its 5th year, aims to shine a light on the often unseen emotional weight carried by individuals and families affected by suicide. Members of the public are invited to join the walk; no weighted vest required; but participants should be willing to help raise life-saving donations for James' Place.

James' Place offers free, life-saving therapy to men in suicidal crisis at centres, within:- Liverpool, London and Newcastle. Men typically receive:- 6 to 8 face to face sessions with a trained professional therapist in a non-clinical, safe and welcoming environment.

Paul, originally from Knowsley, said:- "This year Caring Connections is proud to organise the Lightbody Health Carry that Weight Challenge in aid of James' Place Liverpool. The work of James' Place fits perfectly with the aim of the event, and this year we're focusing on raising awareness and funds to prevent suicides across Merseyside. It's a tough challenge for an amazing cause, so please join us."

Anyone interested in joining Paul to help raise vital, life-saving funds for men in crisis can get in touch at:- Admin@CaringConnections.Org.UK, or call:- 01512892761. Money raised will help James' Place provide therapy to men in suicidal crisis in Merseyside.

Men who are in suicidal crisis in the North East, North West and London area can seek support from James' Place at:- JamesPlace.Org.UK. You can also contact them if you are a concerned about a man you know.

If you or someone you know is suicidal and needs immediate support you can seek help from your local A&E Department, contact the NHS on:- 111, and select option 2, access 24 hour support via the Samaritans on:- 116 123 or text:- 'SHOUT' to:- 85258.

WEST Lancashire Borough Council has formally adopted a position in support of co-locating both Adult and Children's 24 hour Accident & Emergency (A&E) services at Ormskirk Hospital.

The motion, carried at a recent meeting of Full Council, comes in response to the public consultation led by the Shaping Care Together Joint Committee, which is considering future urgent and emergency care provision across the former Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust catchment area, including:- Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. The options presented by the Committee bring both Adult and Children's A&E provision to 1 location, that being either Ormskirk Hospital or Southport Hospital.

Ormskirk Hospital's central location within the catchment area places nearly all residents within a 10 kilometre radius. However, the Joint Committee has expressed a preference for co-location at Southport Hospital, which would leave Ormskirk, and the whole West Lancashire borough, without A&E services and place some residents over 20 kilometres away from emergency care.

The Council believes that all residents across West Lancashire, Southport and Formby deserve equal access to world-class NHS services, free at the point of delivery. Therefore, round the clock provision of both Adult and Children's A&E services at Ormskirk Hospital would provide the greatest accessibility for the greatest number of people. This should include:- restoration of a full 24hr Children's A&E service at Ormskirk, which has been closed overnight since 2020, despite the change being considered a temporary move at the time.

The Council has now committed to submit a formal response to the consultation advocating for the co-location of services at Ormskirk Hospital, which will include:- a report led by the Council's Health & Wellbeing Officers.

Councillor Vickie Cummins, Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing, said:- "We strongly believe all residents in the catchment area affected by this decision are best served by 24hr A&E Services being reinstated in Ormskirk. Many of our residents do not drive and public transport can be an issue, so travelling 20 kilometres to access urgent care is impractical and difficult. To now lose the Children's A&E Department will be another blow and extremely concerning for anyone with a young family. Services for Lancashire residents is already complex due to NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundaries, and Southport Hospital sitting in Merseyside, meaning West Lancashire has no voice in decision making. Moving A&E to Southport, outside Lancashire ICB, risks further fragmentation, especially during local Government reorganisation. Centrally located services would make getting emergency care a far more reasonable option for everyone. I urge everyone in the Borough to make their voices heard by taking part in the consultation."

Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultation and make their views heard by visiting: About the consultation | Your Say Shaping Care Together

There are also a number of public Q&A sessions residents can attend to find out more: -

• Online session, on:-Tuesday, 26 August 2025, from:- 1pm to 2.30pm
   

• Banks; The Hub, on:- Tuesday, 2 September 2025, from:- 1pm to 2.30pm
   

• Skelmersdale; Greenhill Community Hub, on:- Tuesday 2 September 2025, from:- 5.30pm to 7pm
   

• Tarleton;  Mere Brow Village Hall, on:- Tuesday, 16 September 2025, from:- 5.30pm to 7pm
   

• Ormskirk; Ministry Centre, Christ Church, Aughton, on:- Tuesday, 23 September 2025, from:- 5.30pm to 7pm

Visit About the consultation website to register for 1 of the sessions.

The consultation closes on:- 3 October 2025.