Don't Cut The Care campaign

Such is the strength of feeling against cuts to opening hours at the hospital’s minor injuries unit, that a second march is now being considered in the new year.

District councillor Lindsay Burr (Lib Dem), a Malton ward member and organiser of the campaign, which is supported by the Gazette & Herald, said she was overwhelmed by the number of people who had joined the march.

She said: “This is the first time I have ever done anything like this and it was just amazing to see so many people, with many more people at the hospital who were unable to march but wanted to show their support.

“What was wonderful was that we had people of all age groups protesting, from children in pushchairs to elderly people in wheelchairs, as well as dogs and even a racehorse.” Coun Burr said opposition to the cutbacks came from across Ryedale.

“We were here to protest about the cuts, to show the strength of feeling that there is throughout Ryedale and how the minor injuries unit is needed – at weekends, and with longer opening hours. Hopefully, this will make the decision-makers take notice.”

The reduction in opening hours at the MIU, from 8am-9.30pm, seven days a week, to 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, took effect from December 3.

Thousands of readers have put their names to petitions, both through the Gazette & Herald and in shops and businesses across Ryedale.

Coun Burr said the petitions would still be available until early in the New Year when they would be presented to health officials.

“I have been inundated by people who wanted to take part in the march but had other commitments so I am considering organising a second march,” she added.

“I would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who is supporting us in keeping the minor injuries unit open.”

Dr Michael Lynch, senior partner at Derwent Practice, Malton, said the turn-out demonstrated the huge support for the service which they were in danger of losing.

He said: “Our nurses need a voice, they have been trained to do this role at Malton and provide a highly-qualified service. It would be a very sad day if Ryedale was to lose it.

“Hopefully this will get our point across. Ryedale is a huge area and by making these cuts they are not thinking of those people. They are upsetting thousands of people to save not many thousands of pounds.”

The protesters, who included many present and former staff at Malton Hospital, marched with banners wearing ‘Save Our MIU’ t-shirts through the town to the Market Place Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, who joined the march, said the numbers of people there was ‘very impressive’.

“On the environment food and rural affairs select committee, which I chair, we recently had a briefing from the health and safety executive about the level for accidents and injuries sustained in farming and fisheries are the two most dangerous industries with regard to accidents at work.

“On top of that, we have one of the highest concentrations of racehorse training and riding facilities across North Yorkshire and in the country, which are concentrated in and around Malton and Norton.

“These are additional reasons why it is so important to have a minor injuries unit in Malton.”

She added: “I have made strong and persistent representation to the Primary Care Trust and to theGovernment minister, Jeremy Hunt, as to the importance of the retention of a full-scale MIU at Malton, which serves the local community while relieving the pressure on otherNHS facilities nearby.”

Simon Cox, chief operating officer for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group, said last week that it was committed to ensuring local residents have access to the best possible health services for their needs.

He added that while the reduced hours at the MIU were in place, they planned to review the impact, both in terms of cost-saving, quality and impact on patients, to inform the best use of the MIU in the future.

• If you oppose the cuts being made to the opening hours of Malton Hospital’s MIU, make sure your voice is heard by signing our petition.

You can sign online, or sign a petition form at shops and businesses across Ryedale.