Scrutiny meeting to examine closure of minor injuries unit

NHS bosses announced in March that from April it was temporarily closing the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) from 11pm to 8am and temporarily halting all general anaesthetic and endoscopy procedures at Whitby Hospital.

Head of Scrutiny and Corporate Performance, Hugh Williamson, said: "The changes in opening hours of the MIU were brought about mainly due to the problems in recruiting emergency nurse practitioners.

"General anaesthetics and endoscopy procedures were halted on the basis of the operating theatres not complying with new standards of quality and safety required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission."

Health chiefs said in recent months, general anaesthetic and endoscopy procedures constitute around 56 per cent of the theatre's workload.

Now county council watchdogs are to meet officials from the Scarborough trust at a health scrutiny meeting on Friday to discuss what has happened since March and raise questions about the decision.

Mr Williamson said: "Members may wish to explore the circumstances leading up to the temporary closures and outline the consultation that took place before they were introduced."

Questions would also be asked about progress towards recruiting emergency nurse practitioners.

Sue Metcalfe, deputy chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: "Whitby Community Hospital continues to be an important asset in the delivery of health services on the East Coast and is part of our plan for the future delivery of care.

"This is reflected in a recent 1m investment which has seen replacement of the roof and all windows in the hospital. This refurbishment is now nearing completion.

"We will be conducting a clinical review of operating theatres at Whitby and Malton hospitals as part of our wider review of health services in Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale.

"We know this review, which has been prompted by circumstances beyond our control, will cause concern for people but we cannot emphasise enough that these hospitals are an important part of our future strategy."