THE sudden announcement of the closure of the Archways rehabilitation centre without consultation with either staff, patients or the public, is just one example of the crisis our NHS is facing under the pressure of Government cuts.

At the Health and Well Being Board last week I challenged the closure and the way it had been announced and was told the closure was not a “closure” but a planned “service development” - which will transfer resources to an expanded community rehabilitation team.

It’s still unclear to what extent expanded community services that are likely to leave recovering patients on their own for at least some parts of the day or night, can replace the kind of intensive and continuous support and care offered at Archways.

I suspect the only hope for our NHS to survive the current Government assault is for managers to explain more clearly and openly to the public what is happening and why - and for the public to get more informed and challenging.

On September 23 a public meeting at the Priory Street Centre (7.30pm) will discuss the latest plans for wholesale NHS reorganisation (the catchily named STPs) and on September 28 the council’s health and social care committee will be examining the Archways decision.

Cllr Denise Craghill, Green group representative, Health & Well Being Board, member Health & Social Care Scrutiny Committee, Broadway West, York