Grantham A&E overnight closure will not be reviewed by Health Secretary

An independent report has found that there should be no review into the overnight closure of Grantham's A&E department by the Health Secretary.

The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, has accepted the findings of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) that a full review into the decision by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is not necessary.

It follows a referral from Lincolnshire's Health Scrutiny Committee in November 2016, which the Secretary of State asked the IRP to look into in February this year.

Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said it was a 'disappointing result.

In their report, the IRP agree with the Committee that the closure can no longer be considered temporary and should not be referred to as such. Neither ULHT nor the IRP are disputing the Committee's view that the overnight closure constitutes a 'substantial variation in healthcare provision' in the area.

The IRP report suggests that ULHT should have discussed the staffing issues and possible knock-on effects, with the Committee prior to the closure. They also acknowledge that this has led the committee to be distrustful of the information that ULHT have provided, and about the nature of the 'temporary' closure.

The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire will consider the full IRP report at its meeting on 13 September.