Minister refers decision to close region’s hospital beds to panel

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE welcomed Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s referral of a decision to close beds and minor injuries units at hospitals in the East Riding to independent experts.

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel, a non-departmental public health body, will make an initial assessment of the plans, which includes shutting 12 beds at Withernsea and Hornsea hospitals.

The panel has been given until October 4 by Mr Hunt to decide whether a full review is required.

If the panel deems that the East Riding clinical commissioning group’s (CCG) decisions, which also include closing MIUs at Hornsea, Withernsea and Driffield, contradicts its duty of care, it can recommend that the Health Secretary overturns them.

The decision by My Hunt to refer the case comes after City Heath Care Partnership (CHCP) sparked anger by halting admissions to the 12-bed ward at Withernsea hospital, citing staff shortages and safety concerns, month.

The ward closed on Friday last week and despite the CCG insisting the closure is “temporary”, ancillary staff have been put on notice of possible redundancy. CHCP has given notice on the facilities contract they hold with NHS Property Services.

Local health forum chairman Marion Mead said: “We are still fighting for the beds. We desperately need palliative care.

“We don’t want to be in a care home, we want our own hospital beds. Everybody is absolutely last disgusted and no one can understand how they had the gall to close the beds.”

Withernsea councillor Brian Cloke added: “My understanding is that it is unusual for Jeremy Hunt to refer it to the IRP. I don’t think that many get referred and I am heartened by that, but realistic.”

MP Graham Stuart added: “MP Sir Greg Knight and I will be making submissions to the IRP in support of the original case put forward by East Riding Council. The Health Secretary’s decision to refer this case shows the planned closures are still up for debate,”

The CCG has denied the plans are about saving money, but at a meeting in March where the original decision was made, a £6.8m deficit budget, requiring more than £15m savings and efficiencies, was also approved.

The plan is to replace the beds at Withernsea with intensive support at home and care home beds.

Urgent care centres, open 16 hours a day, will be introduced in Beverley, Bridlington and Goole. As a concession, the CCG will also offer an hourly slot at Withernsea and Driffield hospitals and Hessle for “low-level” injuries.

Chief Officer Jane Hawkard said she is confident the right decision had been made.

She added: “The existing MIUs will remain in place and operational until any new services are introduced.”