A MERSEY MP demanded an inquiry last night over the death of a four-day-old baby boy who was driven past his nearest hospital in search of vital treatment.

An ambulance was called to tend to the child after he stopped breathing due to suspected heart problems.

Paramedics rushed to the home in Bank Square, in Southport town centre, just after 1.20am yesterday, and tried to resuscitate the child.

But when they radioed ahead to Southport and Formby District Hospital, they were told they must take the child eight miles to Ormskirk.

The ambulance finally arrived at Ormskirk A&E at 2.05am, but the baby later died.

Southport MP John Pugh is demanding an inquiry as to why the child could not be treated at its local hospital.

He said: “There needs to be a proper, independent inquiry into how this happened and why the sophisticated resources of Southport hospital were bypassed.

“If they could have saved this poor mite’s life, it puts a huge question mark against the assurances and policy that NHS bosses have doled out for the last few years.

“Children have to be treated in Southport.”

A post mortem will be carried out on the child later today.