Blow for Rake Lane 24-hour A&E hopes

North Tyneside Labour last night watered down its plans to review the possibility of restoring 24-hour accident and emergency care to Rake Lane hospital.

Earlier in the year, the Conservative group on the council established a 'task and finish group' with one goal: to find out what needed to happen in order to bring back 24-hour A&E care at Rake Lane hospital and restore walk-in services to Battle Hill.

But the council have now passed a motion to widen the group's remit, in effect meaning that efforts won't be focussed on bringing back these services.

Commenting on the council's decision, Conservative Councillor Olly Scargill said

"We all understand the pressures the NHS is facing. That's why the government has invested an extra £8 billion of funding for the NHS and adult social care in 2024-25.

"Locally, we asked the council to work towards restoring 24-hour A&E care at Rake Lane hospital and restore walk-in services to Battle Hill. Despite council unanimously agreeing this just a few months ago, they now want to extend the task and finish group's remit, turning it into a talking shop with multiple competing priorities.

"We know that restoring 24-hour A&E care is a priority for our residents. So it's hugely disappointing that the Labour Party have so quickly decided against taking decisive action on this. We will continue to do whatever we can to make sure these services are restored.”