The former chairman of an influential health watchdog has backed a call by an NHS boss for campaigners to abandon legal action over the closure of the accident and emergency unit at the Friarage.
Councillor Jim Clark, who has battled to retain key hospital services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton for more than a decade, said he believed the time and energy of the Save The Friarage Hospital campaigners would be better spent on shaping a public consultation over future services at the infirmary.
Cllr Clark made the comments days after Richmond MP Rishi Sunak published an independent report which concluded South Tees NHS Trust has made a strong case to downgrade provision.
Last month the trust’s medical director, Dr Adrian Clements, told North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny of health committee, campaigners to drop their battle as it was costing an “awful lot of money”.
“The change has actually improved some of our patient pathways, bringing in consultants into the patient pathway as early as possible clearly helps care,” he said.
However, the campaign group said it would continue with its judicial review action.
In a statement it said: “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.”
Former scrutiny of health committee chairman Cllr Clark said: “I think the campaigners would be better served putting their efforts on helping shape what services will look like at the Friarage in the future.
“The consultation should be treated an opportunity, and if people don’t get what they consider is required, that is when the scrutiny of health would pick it up.”
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