Declares that the Petitioners believe in fighting to defend the NHS, believe in fighting to defend the NHS services in East Cleveland and Park End, Middlesbrough, and oppose cuts inflicted by the Conservative-led government’s Health and Social Care Act 2012; further that the Petitioners believe that proposals to scrap GP services at Skelton Medical Centre should be abandoned; further that proposals to scrap GP services at Park End Medical Centre should also be abandoned; further that the Petitioners believe that South Tees clinical commissioning group’s plans to close East Cleveland Hospital’s and Guisborough Hospital’s minor injuries units is short-sighted given the £50 million deficit of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; and further that the Petitioners condemn South Tees clinical commissioning group’s decision to close Skelton’s NHS walk-in centre.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage NHS England and South Tees clinical commissioning group to reverse plans to close Park End Medical Centre, Skelton Medical Centre, its NHS walk-in centre and East Cleveland and Guisborough Hospital’s minor injury units.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tom Blenkinsop, Official Report, 14 May 2014; Vol. 580, c. 857.]
[P001352]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
These are matters for the local NHS. This Government are committed to devolving decision-making about local NHS services to local clinicians and communities. It is GPs, clinicians, patients and local authorities who are best placed to determine the nature of their NHS services.
A public consultation on the proposed changes to community hospital services in South Tees is currently taking place and is due to close on 31 July. No decisions have been made on the proposed closure of the minor injuries units at East Cleveland and Guisborough Hospitals.
NHS England has reviewed the provision of primary care services at Skelton Medical Centre and Park End Clinic, and service users have been invited to contribute their views. In addition, the South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group has consulted locally on the provision of the walk in service at Skelton. NHS England will work with the South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group on the outcome of the reviews.