Hospital injuries unit faces the axe

The service at St Monica's in Easingwold, was granted a temporary reprieve for more consultations with GPs when the primary care trust, NHS North Yorkshire and York, voted to close similar units at the Lambert Hospital in Thirsk and Friary Community Hospital in Richmond in October.

But the trust's board meeting on Tuesday members is being recommended to close the Easingwold minor injuries unit as well.

Locality director Amanda Brown said: "The provision of minor injury services at the three community hospitals relies on ward staff that are not trained to a level where they can provide minor injury services and work independently of a medical lead.

"The service clinical governance arrangements are weak and do not comply with current guidance.

"The patient attendances at each site are very low, averaging one or two patients per day and are not sufficient to maintain the competency of the staff or enable a rotation with accident and emergency services."

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, health chiefs have been accused of eroding vital NHS services and jeopardising the welfare of patients with plans to close the Lambert and Friary units.

It is feared that many patients would not bother to make the journey to have minor injuries treated, prompting concerns that their conditions could worsen.

But senior health officials have maintained that GPs will now provide adequate cover from their surgeries during the day and with an out-of-hours service during the evening and night.

The report accepts the public and GPs have raised objections to the proposal and value the convenience of local treatment.

But officials say implementing the closure will involve a campaign to raise awareness about where patients can get advice and treatment for minor injuries.