POLITICIANS have expressed serious concerns over the closure of a York hospital unit without any public consultation.

Archways in Clarendon Court, between Haxby Road and Wigginton Road, cares for 350, mainly elderly, people a year to prevent patients being admitted to York Hospital or to allow earlier discharge.

It was announced on Wednesday that the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had decided to close the unit at the end of the year.

York's Labour Group said NHS bosses are "bulldozing" the plans through and "failed to consult and explain the changes".

They are calling on other parties to support them in referring the matter to the Secretary of State.

Cllr Stuart Barnes, Labour’s deputy leader and member of the council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “The fact that these plans are being bulldozed through with such short notice and without consultation is a major concern. The law requires consultation with patients and the public, and that significant changes are explained to the council, none of which has happened.

“This sadly appears to be the modern day reality of NHS bosses under real pressure to do what Westminster demands and balance the books, sometimes by changing or removing services. I want to send a very clear message to the interim bosses in charge of NHS services here that balancing the books is not an excuse to cut corners and sell this city short.”

The Labour group statement highlights that the CCG is under interim leadership after the organisation fell into special measures due to poor performance. It is currently working to claw back about £13million of debt.

The Press has contacted Vale of York CCG and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a response.

- If you have concerns or an opinion to express about the closure of Archways, you are invited to contact Healthwatch York or York Older People's Assembly. 

You can call Healthwatch on  01904 621133, or write to Healthwatch York, 15 Priory Street, YO1 6ET, or email healthwatch@yorkcvs.org.uk

You can contact York Older People's Assembly by calling 01904 761240.