PARENTS who moved away from their family home in Wilmslow to give their son a "lifeline" by being closer to the medical services he needs have led an appeal to save the district hospital.

The family is urging people to take an active part in consultation to try to safeguard children's inpatient services at Macclesfield.

Concerned mum Angela Norton, 34, says the children's ward is vital to her five-year-old son Reims who has severe complex epilepsy, severe mental and physical learning disabilities and is autistic.

Reims suffers up to ten seizures a day - but if he has a prolonged fit, Angela and her electrician husband Chris, 37, immediately rush their eldest son to Macclesfield Hospital.

Angela, formerly of Sandhurst Drive, The Villas and now of Hamble Way, Macclesfield, said: "Knowing the hospital is there is our lifeline. If a seizure continues for longer than five minutes and the recommended drug does not work he may stop breathing. If we are at home we drive him to hospital ourselves because we can be there in minutes. We are on open access to the children's ward where they stabilise him.

"But it is not just in emergencies where the closeness of the ward is crucial, the hospital is vital because Reims cannot communicate to us when something is wrong. It's piece of mind having the children's ward so close to hand. As a family it is our lifeline and insurance for us that they are at the end of the phone or just down the road so they can check him over day or night."

Reims, who attends Horton Lodge Special Needs School in Leek, began having seizures at just four weeks old and cannot walk or talk.

The Nortons moved from Wilmslow to Macclesfield in 2002 to be nearer the hospital because Reims spends so much time there.

Younger son Harrison, 4, who goes to Prestbury Nursery School, also relied on the hospital when he went into anaphylactic shock.

His severe nut allergy was discovered at 18-months-old when his nana kissed him after she ate a brazil nut and his lips and tongue swelled up.

He was taken straight to Macclesfield Hospital, given adrenaline and made a full recovery.

Angela, who gave up her job as an accountants clark to be a full-time carer for Reims, added: "Stepping Hill is a 45 minute journey and being in and out of hospital many times would make travelling with Harrison or child care very difficult.

"We have all our trust in the people at the children's ward. We don't know what could happen and it is frightening. We are petrified he could have a seizure in the night. They are like family to us, and we would have to start building new relationships with doctors, nurses and consultants."

Reims goes into hospital at least once a month and stays for a number of days depending on how bad his fits are - Angela always stays with him.

Making It Better proposes streamlining inpatient paediatric and obstetric services for children, young people, parents and babies across Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire.

Option A is the preferred option but only option D involves keeping children's, maternity and neonatal services at Macclesfield Hospital.

Both children were born at Macclesfield Hospital and the Nortons would have to seriously consider moving if proposals were pushed through - even though they have spent £40,000 on adapting their family home with a lift, bathroom hoist, wider doorways and ramp for Reims.

"We need this - is it so important. It is just two minutes of your time to fill in the consultation form but so important to our family and others in the area. I am sure I am not the only mother with a special needs child," she said.

Dr Leslie Klein, Director of Public Health for Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust said he welcomed the comments from the family and added: "They are quite right to point out any problems that they might personally experience and to encourage everyone to have their say on Making it Better, Making it Real.

"The PCT is determined to ensure that there is a proper debate about the issues before any substantial decisions are made. By conducting this review in public we are actively seeking the views of patients, local residents, staff and others on the need for change."

More information and copies of the Making It Better public consultation document are available from freephone 0800 587 2901, freepost Making It Better, emailing consultation.response@gmsha.nhs.uk and via the website www.bestforhealth.nhs.uk .