THE GP commissioning group which pushed through controversial changes at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton has been shortlisted for a number of national awards.

NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (HRWCCG) has been shortlisted for the redesign of paediatric and maternity services at the Friarage and for improved partnerships between health and local government.

In addition, clinical chief officer for the HRWCCG, Dr Vicky Pleydell, has been shortlisted in the clinical leader of the year category for the Health Service Journal Awards 2014.

The CCG argued that the Friarage could no longer support a fully-fledged maternity unit or paediatric department because of shortages of medical staff and the lack of numbers using the hospital.

Despite widespread opposition to the changes the Friarage’s paediatric and maternity unit has now been downgraded to a daytime assessment unit for children and a midwife-led maternity unit for women who are not expecting problem births.

John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council and leading opponent of the changes to the Friarage said: “I find that the shortlist is either a joke or deliberately designed to affront local people.”

He said: “As the leader of a district council I have not noted any improvement in the working relationships between health and local government where elected members have been at loggerheads with each and every cut the CCG has presided over.”

The redesign of paediatric services at the Friarage “has taken away a first class centre of excellence which commanded huge confidence in the community it served,” he added.

“Personally, I think the award should be given to those small hospitals that have continued these services for the benefit of local communities rather than to a local NHS which has simply abandoned them.”