‘Let people voice Friarage Hospital concerns’ (From Gazette & Herald)

‘Let people voice Friarage Hospital concerns’

9:10am Saturday 26th January 2013 in News

PATIENTS should have the chance to air their fears about the future of maternity and child services at a North Yorkshire hospital, a leading councillor has said.

The NHS is proposing to reduce the services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, claiming they are “unsustainable”.

But an initial review of the plans will now be carried out by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt made the decision to order the review after North Yorkshire County Council referred the proposals to the Department of Health in December.

If the changes went ahead, mothers-to-be would have to travel to hospital in Middlesbrough instead.

Mr Hunt said a full review will be carried out if the panel decides it is needed, in a letter to the chairman of the council’s scrutiny of health committee, Coun Jim Clark.

Coun Clark said in response: “If a full review is ordered, as I hope it will be, there will be an opportunity for the people of North Yorkshire to present their very deep concerns about these proposals directly to those with the ultimate responsibility for deciding what should happen.”