A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to close two medical walk-in centres could be referred to the Secretary of State for Health as councillors endeavour to ensure the decision would not affect residents.

The South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is consulting on offering extended access to GP services, seven days-a-week for people across Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

However, by increasing its spending to offer extended access to GP services, it says it cannot sustain its walk-in centres at North Ormesby and Eston Grange.

The proposals are now being looked at by the South Tees Health Scrutiny Joint Committee, made up of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland councillors.

Committee chairman Middlesbrough Cllr Eddie Dryden said: “The committee understands why they are doing it, the system is complicated to navigate, and the CCG are responding to national policy directives but we need to ensure that it is safe and in the best interests of the South Tees population.”

Members can refer issues to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt if it does not think the proposals are in the best interests of the health service in the area.

Redcar and Cleveland Cllr Ian Jeffrey, Chairman of the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “It is really important that people take the opportunity to have their say on these proposals as they will change the way that urgent care services are delivered across the South Tees.”

Three options have been put forward by the CCG, all of which would see the two walk-in centres no longer available after March 31, 2017.