HEALTH watchdogs are calling for full opening hours to be restored at a North Yorkshire hospital’s children’s unit.
Opening times of the new short-stay assessment centre at Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital have been cut by 20 hours a week because of staffing pressures.
The move comes less than four months after controversial changes to the hospital’s children’s and maternity services.
The South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust insists the new move is temporary and has been caused by a shortfall of four full-time staff due to long-term sickness and vacancies.
Now the chairman of North Yorkshire’s scrutiny of health committee, Cllr Jim Clark, has expressed his “disappointment and deep concern” at the move.
He has called for the lost hours – ten during the week and ten at the weekend – to be restored and councillors will discuss the issue when they meet in Northallerton next week.
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