HEALTH chiefs are pressing ahead with the closure of a minor injuries unit at Easingwold, despite strong opposition in the town.

The board of NHS North Yorkshire and York decided yesterday to shut the unit at St Monica’s Hospital, during a meeting attended by scores of local residents.

They included Micky Johnson, who chairs an over-50s forum for Easingwold and nearby villages and who strongly opposed the closure. She said afterwards she was “disappointed but not surprised” by the decision.

Another opponent present was GP Mike Potrykus, based at Tollerton, who has previously branded closure “very short-sighted”.

He has claimed the unit, which treats injuries such as burns, cuts, abrasions and foreign bodies in eyes, provided a good service, and had very competent nursing staff who were well supported and had direct contact with GPs if a problem arose. He has also claimed the units works out cheaper for the NHS than patients going instead to ann accident and emergency department, for example at York Hospital.

Jayne Brown, chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said after yesterday’s decision that the board fully appreciated the strength of local public feeling regarding St Monica’s Hospital and remained committed to it.

“We also value the work of the hospital’s league of friends for their sterling efforts in raising funds,” she said.

“The board took the decision regarding minor injuries seriously and made a clinical decision based on the evidence presented to it.”

She said the closure was not about cost saving, and implementing this change would actually cost the trust more money. We believe it is in the best interests of the local community and ensures hospital staff can remain focused on supporting the patients they care for in the hospital. Across North Yorkshire, minor injury services are widely available in general practice. We will be working with local GPs to secure an effective and safe alternative minor injury service for Easingwold.”