CAMPAIGNERS have given a cautious welcome to plans for Malton Hospital to become the urgent care centre for Ryedale, following extensive consultation on the future of the service.

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has appointed Northern Doctors Urgent Care to operate the unit, along with a second unit at Scarborough Hospital from April.

The unit will assess, diagnose and treat all patients with urgent care needs. There will be access to diagnostics such as X-rays and advice from A&E staff, as well as other services, including mental health.

In 2012, a campaign launched by district and county councillor Lindsay Burr gathered more than 10,000 signatures on a petition following a cut in opening hours at Malton minor injuries unit. The unit reopened at weekends in August 2013, but remains closed in the evenings.

Councillor Burr said: “I’m delighted that Malton Hospital has been selected for the new services, however I’m not in favour of privatisation and this new service will be run by a private company.”

Coun Burr said she was also very concerned after talking to local nurses regarding job security. “I am a true optimist and I truly hope all the information given is true, and we end up with a truly fantastic service which will serve the needs of Ryedale’s local people,” she said.

“Campaigning to keep the unit open at Malton Hospital proved to be so important and by keeping the unit open, this has led to improved and expanded services.”

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Thirsk and Malton, Di Keal said: “It is good news that the Scarborough and Ryedale CCG has invested in the new Urgent Care Centre at Malton Hospital, which will, hopefully, lead to a better local service based where people in Ryedale have said they want to be treated when they need urgent medical attention.

“However, representatives from Northern Doctors, who will be running the service in Malton, were unable to commit to specific opening hours for the planned walk-in service, which is a concern.

“Accidents and illnesses can happen at any point and an appointment-based system will be available when the walk-in centre is closed, but I will continue to argue that an extension to the current Minor Injuries Unit opening hours is needed if the new urgent care service is to truly benefit the local community and take the pressure off our A&E services in Scarborough and York.”

A spokesman for the CCG said the organisation would be in a position to confirm the opening hours in the next two weeks, coinciding with the launch of the promotional campaign about the service. “We do anticipate that the walk-in opening hours will be longer than the current opening hours of the minor injury unit,” he said.

The spokesman said the current out-of-hours service in Scarborough and Ryedale was provided by private firm Primecare.

He said: “Northern Doctors, who will provide the new urgent care service, is a social enterprise and has confirmed that any profits will be reinvested into the service. They are working with the current providers of the urgent care services, are in a period of formal consultation with staff.”