RUMOURS around a potential closure of a North Yorkshire A&E department have been quashed.

Concerns were raised over the possible plans to close Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital A&E department – but the health trust said the service was set to be changed in a pilot scheme bringing in GPs to give extra support.

However the CCG is still proposing to change the A&E department to an Urgent and Emergency Care centre, which is a downgrade from a full A&E.

The Friarage has already seen its maternity unit downgraded to a midwife-led service.

Dr Charles Parker, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group clinical chairman and local GP, said: “A letter was sent to all practices in our area requesting expressions of interest to work at The Friarage Hospital A&E department on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 6pm initially for a three month period.

“We have seen that these weekend periods are busiest and some patients are not currently being seen within four hours. This support from GPs on weekends would be in addition to existing A&E doctors and other A&E staff.

“This offer is part of a proposed new Urgent and Emergency Care model which would mean better integration of primary care, ambulance services and hospital based services to improve the quality, resilience and sustainability of services.

“The proposed new model aims to commence during March 2017 for an initial ‘proof of concept’ phase to test the model. We will continue to test and review the model throughout.”

Similar concerns over the potential closure of Darlington Memorial Hospital’s A&E department have also been dismissed by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) bosses.

During the Trust’s annual general meeting held in Darlington last night, CDDFT chief executive Sue Jacques addressed members of the public to state that no plans have been made in regards to a possible loss of service.

Members were also reassured that no changes could be made to services without public consultation which had been scheduled to take place this winter, however Mrs Jacques stated this process is more likely to begin in January or February 2017.

However, Upper Dales councillor John Blackie, is holding a meeting in Reeth next week to hear from residents concerned over healthcare provision in light of the consultation which includes Darlington’s maternity and A&E departments.

He said: “People are very worried about what will happen if the nearest A&E department is at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

“It is a very long way for Dales residents and they are fearful of what will happen if they can’t get to hospital in time – time saved equals lives saved.

“The fact that the Friarage Hospital could become an Urgent and Emergency Care is still worrying because that is a downgrade from a full A&E department.”