A CUT to opening hours at the Friarage Hospital's short-stay paediatric assessment unit (SSPAU) – less than four months after the withdrawal of a 24-hour service – has been described as "outrageous".

The department's opening times will be reduced by 20 hours a week in response to staffing pressures.

Currently the children’s unit opens from 10am to 10pm, but from Saturday it will close at the earlier time of 8pm Monday to Friday and 5pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Doctors say the impact on patients will be minimal as very few children attend the unit after 8pm between Monday to Friday - four over a period of three months - or after 5pm on weekends.

The SSPAU opened in October last year following changes to children’s and maternity services at the hospital.

The unit assesses and treats children and young people referred by their GP or who have an open-access arrangement.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said that despite efforts to recruit consultants, the paediatric consultant team had a shortfall of four full-time staff due to long-term sickness and vacancies.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Ginny Birrell said: “Unfortunately we can’t sustain the level of service we currently provide for children so, in the short-term, we’ve taken the decision to reduce our opening times.

"We do not anticipate these changes will impact on our patients, as very few children attend the unit after the times we’re temporarily changing to, but we will be closely monitoring the situation with a further review in April.”

But Councillor John Blackie, who has campaigned against cuts at the Friarage, described the move as "absolutely outrageous".

"This will lead to a complete loss of trust and confidence in the NHS - the feeling from the public will be that they have been sold down the river.

"I find it incredibly worrying that greatest cut in hours will occur at weekends when there is no other help available."

Richmond Conservative parliamentary candidate Rishi Sunak said he was "very disappointed" at the changes.

"As a father of two young children, I know first hand how vital these services are. After previous downgrades, this is yet another blow."

Dr Vicky Pleydell, clinical chief officer at Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions services from the hospital, also raised concerns.

“While patient safety and quality of care must be the main priorities for the service, we are extremely disappointed that the opening hours have changed and it is not something that we support."