Consultation plea before axe falls on hospital injury unit

COUNCILLOR SAYS CLOSURE PLAN 'REFLECTS YEARS OF AUSTERITY'

- NICK JACKSON

COUNCILLORS on a health watchdog body are demanding that the planned permanent closure of a hospital’s minor injuries unit is subject to high-level public consultation.

The call by Trafford’s health scrutiny committee has been made ahead of a crunch decision due at a meeting Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The board meets next Wednesday when the axe could fall on the unit at Altrincham General Hospital which has been closed since the first Covid pandemic lockdown four years ago.

Difficulties in recruiting nurses have been cited as one of the reasons for its possible demise.

Public health officials have recommended that the unit, which occupies two rooms at the hospital, should never reopen and that patients should instead go to Wythenshawe Hospital’s urgent care facility.