Graham has welcomed this morning’s news that the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of East Riding of Yorkshire Council has voted unanimously to refer East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group’s Urgent Care Strategy to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The plans by the CCG include closing the Minor Injury Units at Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea and stripping community beds from Withernsea and Bridlington. Graham, who has opposed the plans fiercely from the start, wrote to the Committee’s chair last month together with Sir Greg Knight MP, urging Committee members to exercise their right to make a formal referral to the Secretary of State.
The referral means that the Health Secretary will be able to put the matter before the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which exists to provide expert scrutiny and recommendations regarding contentious NHS plans.
Speaking today, Graham said,
“I very much welcome the decision by the Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to refer these unacceptable plans to the Health Secretary for independent review. People in Hornsea, Withernsea, Driffield and Bridlington have registered their profound opposition to the loss of their Minor Injury Units and community beds respectively. When the chips are down, the last thing they want to have to do is trek miles to seek treatment for a minor injury or to visit a loved one.
“It’s because of this that Sir Greg Knight MP and I wrote to the Committee last month to urge them strongly to exercise their right to take the case to the Secretary of State. The fact that the Committee’s decision today was unanimous only highlights the depth of cross-party opposition across the East Riding to the CCG’s proposals.
“The Independent Reconfiguration Panel exists precisely to look into controversial NHS reorganisations like this and it’s important that it will now be able to subject the proposals to detailed scrutiny and advise the Health Secretary.”
South East Holderness Councillor Lyn Healing, who represents affected people in Withernsea, said,
“I attended today’s Committee hearing to represent my constituents, who feel betrayed by East Riding CCG. I’m delighted and relieved the Committee has done the right thing and stood up for local people – reflecting the determination of both local councillors and our MPs.”
