Cost-cutting proposals to close Edgware Community Hospital's Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at night have been revived just 14 months after the service was saved.

Patient numbers have dwindled to an average of just ten between 10pm and 7am and hospital bosses estimate closure will save £100,000 a year.

Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT), which runs the hospital, also wants to change the UTC's name because patients are turning up with serious injuries which should be dealt with by hospital A&E departments.

The UTC was due to close at night in October last year but the plans were shelved after pressure from the New Edgware Hospital Campaign.

Roger Chapman, chairman of Barnet Community Health Council (CHC), questioned whether the decision to resurrect the move had been thought through properly.

He said. "It's not about wasting money, it is actually having a facility for people who need it when they want it. It is about having a 24-hour accessible health service and the closure would reduce that accessibility."

The centre was opened in 1997 to deal with conditions ranging from minor injuries to eye and throat problems.

Users have risen from 19,000 in 1997/98 to an estimated 47,000 in 2001/02.

Averil Dongworth, Barnet PCT chief executive, said the move did not sound the death knell for the hospital. "Alarm bells might ring if people think this is the first step at nibbling more at Edgware. We want to get over a clear message that it's not," she said.

However Mr Chapman added: "I think it could be seen as another blow to Edgware Hospital."

Barnet PCT is asking for views on the proposals before March 1 next year. To voice your opinions email anita.grabarz@beh.nhs.uk

November 28, 2001 18:03

IAN LLOYD