Residents of Altrincham General Hospital are incensed at the recommendation made by public health officials to permanently close the minor injuries unit. Due primarily to a nationwide scarcity of specialised emergency nurses, the unit has remained closed since the initial Covid pandemic lockdown four years ago.
Trafford council opposition members have been pushing for its reopening, and now the borough’s watchdog health scrutiny committee has demanded that before it is condemned, there be a high-level public consultation. That crucial choice may be made when the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) renders its final judgement on Wednesday, September 18.
Professionals in the medical field have reviewed Trafford’s urgent care and recommended that it be permanently closed. Patients who require treatment will instead be referred to Wythenshawe Hospital, which is approximately three miles away. On Wednesday night, September 11, however, the scrutiny committee decided that since this would be a “substantial change resulting in the closure of a service,” they should request a thorough public consultation.
In the meantime, yesterday (Thursday, September 12) marked the first-ever speech by recently elected Altrincham and Sale MP Connor Rand, who advocated for the unit’s preservation.
“My constituents relied on the Altrincham minor injuries unit, but the Trafford Locality Board closed it in 2020, and it has recently recommended that it should never reopen,” he said to his fellow MPs. Because of the 14 years of Conservative failure with our National Health Service, I am against this recommendation.
He requested a discussion during government time regarding the significance of reducing the load on hospital emergency rooms and guaranteeing that the National Health Service (NHS) can “truly be a neighbourhood health service.”
Those advocating for the continuation of the minor injuries unit are probably encouraged by the response from House Leader Lucy Powell.
“I know that moving our services from hospitals to communities is one of the top priorities of the Health Secretary [Wes Streeting], so a minor injuries unit like the one in Altrincham would be important to that endeavour,” the woman remarked.
‘Sending people to Wythenshawe is no good’
There was unmistakable opposition to the unit’s closure on the town’s streets to the south of Trafford. Ellie Mae Constance, 75, spent the first 22 years of her life in Sale, South Africa, where she was born and raised.
She claimed she wouldn’t be able to get to Wythenshawe Hospital without an automobile. They really ought to reopen the hospital, she declared as she stood outside awaiting a cab. It is not good to send people to Wythenshawe. I could go there on my mobility scooter, but it’s too far away.
The 76-year-old Pauline Smith and her 66-year-old friend Carmel Byrone had similar opinions. They seem to send people all over the place, Pauline remarked. That’s what irritates me. The Wythenshawe emergency team will be under more strain if the unit is closed.
“It was a really good walk-in service here in Altrincham.” Carmel claimed to have had a back injury, but she chose not to go to Wythenshawe and go untreated since she couldn’t get an appointment in Altrincham.
“I was not going to Wythenshawe to stand in queue for hours,” she declared.
The 27-year-old Kenny Caune was a little more receptive to the advice of the health officials. “I suppose sometimes there are people wanting emergency treatment who really don’t need it,” he remarked. I understand their perspective. I believe that eventually there won’t be an NHS and everything will be like in the USA.
Rob Fosbrok (69) was not so understanding. “They shouldn’t close this unit,” he remarked. Parking at Wythenshawe Hospital is terrible. Although I’m retired, going to a place like Wythenshawe while working is the last thing you should be doing.
The 18-year-old friends Veronica Morris and Alexa Hodkinson-Bentley want the minor injuries unit reopened. “Having the unit here would be more practical,” Alexa remarked.
“The distance to Wythenshawe may not be great, but getting there takes a long time.” “The roads to Wythenshawe are not good,” remarked Veronica.
Bev Taylor, 34, had a friend who required draining from a growth on his neck. “Getting an appointment and getting it done in Altrincham was much easier than going to Wythenshawe,” the woman stated. They have to set up another unit for it to function.
James Taylor, her 34-year-old partner, agreed. He declared, “They ought to reopen the unit.” “I have no doubts at all.”
80-year-old Brian Denbigh resides in Timperley. He can’t drive anymore due to a stroke. “I’m not interested in visiting Wythenshawe,” he declared. “I can’t use my perfectly good car that’s sitting on my drive, and there are no trams in the area.” It is insane to close the minor injuries unit.
A woman who wished to remain anonymous stated: “I have a few grandchildren and live in Timperley. I want the unit reopened for their benefit. It’s shameful that it hasn’t occurred yet.”
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