Weston Accident and Emergency unit is going to close overnight with almost immediate effect.

Weston-super-Mare Councillor Mike Bell comments: “The closure renders the consultation process that is going on at the moment about potential future solutions for the long term for Weston A&E as completely meaningless since they have jumped the gun and implemented overnight close anyway.

“Are we supposed to believe that a CQC inspection took place in March, that on 7 June there were “no plans” to carry out an overnight closure and yet miraculously on Friday, 9 June – immediately after the general election – there is a sudden realisation that closure is necessary. It doesn’t stack up to much scrutiny and suggests to me that some people are deliberately misleading the public.

“I’ve asked for the overnight closure to be halted and for additional resources to be made available to the hospital to ensure that the accident and emergency department is made safe. North Somerset Council’s health overview and scrutiny panel will be meeting next week and we expect to interrogate the chief executive of the hospital trust about this shambolic situation.”

You can read the latest at the Weston Mercury here: http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/weston-general-hospital-a-e-to-close-overnight-1-5060288