Graham Stuart MP and Sir Greg Knight MP condemn decision to close Minor Injuries Units in Hornsea, Withernsea and Driffield; call for referral to Secretary of State for Health

Graham Stuart MP and Sir Greg Knight MP have jointly condemned East Riding Clinical Commissioning Group for failing to listen to the voices of people in the East Riding.

In a blow to all those who campaigned to save the Minor Injuries Units in Hornsea, Withernsea and Driffield, the CCG has announced today is set to go ahead with the closures in all three towns.

The MPs said, “Today’s announcement follows almost a year of intense debate about the future of urgent care in the East Riding – an issue that affects all our communities and which prompted a huge public response.  We are grateful to the thousands of constituents who signed petitions and attended rallies to make their views known.

“The decision to close these minor injury units flies in the face of what people Hornsea, Driffield and Withernsea have campaigned for. People want treatment for minor injuries to be available locally rather than making long round trips to seek help when they get a burn or a cut.   

“We recognise that some concessions have been made in the plans regarding Withernsea and Driffield so that there will be a number of booked slots to deal with minor injuries cases at the hospitals there, but that is not a substitute for a proper walk-in service.

“We are therefore calling on the Health Overview Scrutiny Committee at East Riding Council to make a formal referral of this case to the Secretary of State for Health and the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.”