BOSSES at a North Yorkshire hospital have denied they are planning a new round of cuts as councillors call for a march against the potential downgrading of services.

Last night, the Royal College of Nursing’s acting regional director, Estephanie Dunn, spoke out after reports that the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, was considering changes to its medical admissions unit.

This is in addition to plans to downgrade the hospital’s inpatient paediatric and maternity unit.

Ms Dunn called on managers to begin “an honest conversation”

between staff, the community and the trust about how they can continue to deliver services.

But Sue Geldart, divisional manager for cardiothoracic services at the Friarage, said recent discussions had taken place with staff about the possibility of merging the hospital’s coronary care unit and medical admissions unit because of a reduced demand from heart patients, who were usually cared for at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

She said the matter would be discussed by the trust’s management group early next month and the trust is “confident”

that there will be jobs for all staff affected.

The trust said it will soon begin a period of public engagement about an independent report recommending the downgrading of the hospital’s paediatric and maternity units.

Meanwhile, councillors have vowed to push for a large-scale march in protest of the proposed downgrade.

Independent councillor Russell Lord told a meeting of Richmond Town Council on Monday night that he thought the council should write to MP William Hague, and various other individuals and organisations, to implore them to support a campaign to maintain the paediatric and maternity services at the Friarage.

Councillor Lord said: “Everyone should be made aware of the proposals to move services to The James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough. It will have severe consequences to the community and put lives at risk.”

Councillor John Harris said: “Nothing will happen unless thousands of people march through Northallerton.

If we organise a demonstration march it might get the appropriate people to listen to the public’s views.”

County and town councillor Stuart Parsons said he feared that cutting maternity and inpatient paediatric services, and the special care baby unit would just be the beginning.

He said: “This is part of a series of attacks on the North Yorkshire health service. If we allow this review to go ahead, that allows them go move on to accident and emergency and we will end up with it being a large cottage hospital.”

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of a campaign against the closures.