Jeremy Hunt refers decision to close hospital beds in East Yorkshire to independent panel

June Barton, of the Hornsea Cottage Hospital League of Friends. The hospital stands to lose its beds and minor injuries unit

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

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

If it deems the East Riding CCG’s 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.

It comes after City Heath Care Partnership sparked anger in Withernsea by halting admissions to the 12-bed ward at the local hospital, citing staff shortages and safety concerns, last month.

CHCP has given notice on the facilities contract they hold with NHS Property Services.

The ward closed last Friday and despite the CCG insisting the closure is “temporary”, ancillary staff have been put on notice of possible redundancy.

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 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: “I am pleased that the Health Secretary has chosen to refer the matter to the IRP. Sir Greg Knight MP 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 that the planned closures are still up for debate,”

The CCG have denied the plans are about saving money, but at a meeting in March where the original closure 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 open at Beverley, Bridlington and Goole.

As a concession the CCG will also offer a slot per hour at Withernsea and Driffield hospitals and Hessle for “low-level” minor injuries, but they must be booked first.

CCG Chief Officer Jane Hawkard said they were confident the right decision had been made and it was “clinically appropriate.” She added: “The existing MIUs will remain in place and operational until any new services are introduced.”