Lib Dems call for answers over future of Altrincham Hospital facility   

Lib Dems call for answers over future of Altrincham Hospital facility

Trafford Liberal Democrat councillors have said that "answers are needed" over the future of the former Altrincham Minor Injuries facility at Altrincham Hospital.

The facility was marked for permanent closure in 2024 despite opposition from councillors and concerned residents. Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Shaun Ennis has written to Mayor Andy Burnhan, Sir Richard Leese - who chairs the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board - and Labour Executive Member for Healthy & Independent lives, Councillor Jane Slater. In his letter, Ennis renewed his party's call for the facility to be reopened as a Diagnostic Centre.

Councillor Ennis said, “There are questions that need to be answered over the long term future of the former Minor Injuries Unit. The Liberal Democrats want to see it reopened as a Diagnostic Centre so that people can get tests, checks and scans closer to home, reducing pressure on Wythenshawe Hospital, where the waiting lists in A&E have been getting wildly out of hand. I hope our local leaders will support our call for a Community Diagnostic Centre.”

Minor Injuries Units were phased out as a model for urgent care by the Conservative Government in 2015. Other models such as Community Diagnostic Centres are now prefered for hospitals like Altrincham.

Ennis's letter to local leaders also draws attention to the increased demand that new housing developments such as Timperley Wedge - which has been marked for the development of 2,400 new homes - will place on health services in south Trafford.

Fellow Lib Dem councillor and healthcare professional of more than 20 years, Simon Lepori said, "It is already a problem that residents are expected to travel to Wythenshawe. Yes, it may only be a few miles away but the wait times there are the issue. Labour want to add 2,400 homes into the mix. We're saying that you have to try to have services as local as possible. A Community Diagnostic Centre makes a lot of sense. Much of the equipment needed was still in place and it would be a good idea to get it set up sooner rather than later."