HOSPITAL bosses are being urged to reverse their decision to keep the minor injuries unit at Victoria Infirmary closed at evenings and weekends until next April.

The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that the decision had been taken to keep the shorter opening hours set by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust earlier in the pandemic.

The trust says this is to support its support its continued response to coronavirus – but Mike Amesbury MP feels it is unfair residents will now have to travel to Leighton Hospital.

He is hoping to speak to James Sumner, chief executive at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, about the decision today, July 23.

“This decision is unacceptable and I'm calling for the trust to reverse these plans,” the Labour MP for Weaver Vale said.

"This is a vital and much-valued service for the people of Northwich and while we all understand the huge pressures our NHS has been under, local people should not be expected to travel so far out of town to get treatment."

Meanwhile, two Northwich councillors have also spoken out about the decision and are calling for the minor injuries unit to be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Cllr Kate Cernik, a former NHS nurse practitioner, has written to NHS chiefs in Cheshire urging them to reconsider the decision and give clarity on their future plans for Victoria Infirmary.

Northwich Guardian:

“This is extremely disappointing news for people living in the Northwich area,” said Cllr Cernik, Labour member on Cheshire West and Chester Council for Winnington and Castle.

“No one doubts the heroic efforts our carers have made over the last six months to keep us safe and maintain a functioning health service.

"However, there is a great deal of understandable anxiety in Northwich about the future of services at the Victoria Infirmary in the wake of the Covid pandemic and if this crisis has shown anything it's that we need to build up our healthcare capacity, not reduce it."

Cllr Andrew Cooper, Labour CWAC member for Leftwich, says the town has a ‘compelling need for primary care facilities that are appropriate’ as the population of Northwich and its surrounding villages has increased by around 10,000 since the turn of the millennium.

Northwich Guardian:

He added: “Clearly services need to be restored in a way that is safe for patients, and we all understand that the NHS must plan and be prepared for a potential second wave or a winter flu crisis.

“However, it's also important that people feel safe to seek medical attention for issues other than Covid-19 and satellite facilities like the VIN are an excellent way of avoiding people going to Leighton."

Explaining the decision, Mr Sumner said: “This decision has been made as part of a phased restoration of our services, which is being planned and delivered to best meet the needs of all our patients, while making sure that we have the staff and facilities to be able to respond to any potential future developments in the coronavirus outbreak – particularly over the winter period.

READ > Winnington dad who was DEAD for 72 minutes will cycle from Lands End to John o' Groats

“We appreciate that current arrangements may cause an inconvenience for local patients and are grateful for the continued understanding of the community as we work to reinstate more of our services across the patch.”

The Guardian has approached the trust for further comment.