Campaigners have vowed to maintain a legal challenge against the closure of the A&E at the Friarage Hospital.
Earlier this week, South Tees NHS Trust’s medical director Adrian Clements called on the Save the Friarage group to drop a judicial review challenging the replacing of the A&E with an urgent treatment centre.
He said the evidence was growing that the changes introduced at the Northallerton infirmary in March due to shortages in consultant cover had not affected safety and were benefiting patients.
Mr Clements said his view was that the challenge should end as it was costing “an awful lot of money”.
However, the group has issued a statement tonight saying they intend to continue with the legal challenge.
It says: “The reason we called for this to be legally challenged was fuelled by public outrage at the decision made solely by the executive board at the South Tees Trust with no public consultation and, as it transpires since the launch of the legal action, without the consent or backing of the Hambleton, Richmond & Whitby CCG.
“The campaign believes that the South Tees board had not acted lawfully in their decision making and we were granted three out of five grounds at Leeds Combined Court on 11th June.”
The group added that contrary to Mr Clements’ claims that the changes had been safely implemented, they had received numerous statements from people who had not had this experience.
The statement adds: “We are very disappointed and concerned with Dr Clements accusation that this is wasting public money.
“We would like to remind Dr Clements that as a publicly funded body he has openly confessed that the current changes have cost an estimated £1.7 million pound to implement. Where was his concern for the public purse at this point?
“This challenge has never been about money for us; it is about the people of North Yorkshire having the same safe and timely access to emergency care services as they do in other parts of the North-East.
“We are not in the business of wasting public money or mud slinging which we fear Dr Clements is attempting to turn this into. We want transparency from South Tees on the issues we have raised time and time again.
“Since the South Tees Trust took over the hospital in 2002, the people of Northallerton and the wider area have faced 17 years of cuts to the Friarage Hospital.
“Enough is enough – we will continue to fight for our services, our hospital and ultimately our lives.”
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