What next for Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit?
Trafford Liberal Democrats are calling for a permanent ‘Diagnostic Centre’ at Altrincham Hospital after a Greater Manchester NHS decision to close the Minor Injuries Unit was confirmed at a recent council meeting.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health and healthcare professional of 20 years Councillor Simon Lepori said, “The decision to permanently close Altrincham Minor Injuries has left unanswered questions about the future of local health services in South Trafford. How are we going to tackle spiralling waiting lists at Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospitals? How can we support people who are struggling to access GP services? What will the three empty rooms that housed the Minor Injuries Unit be used for now?”
“Trafford Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour Party and Greater Manchester NHS bosses to establish a permanent Diagnostic Centre at Altrincham.”
An NHS Diagnostic Centre is a facility that provides planned scans and tests, offering patients quicker access to services away from overstretched walk-in centres. The Liberal Democrats argue that Altrincham Hospital is an ideal location for such a service, given that much of the X-Ray equipment required is already in place at the hospital.
Councillor Lepori said, “The bottom line is we want to keep people out of A&E waiting rooms when they don’t need to be there. That’s exactly what a Diagnostic Centre can do by taking people who are waiting for scans or tests and attending to their needs locally. It is not good enough for local leaders to close Altrincham Minor Injuries and people to travel outside of Trafford for treatment. We should be putting those rooms to efficient use.”