Anne McIntosh MP has spoken out against health chiefs for closing vital operating theatres at two hospitals because of problems with the ventilation system.
HVR reported on the closures at Malton and Whitby hospitals earlier this week, after the ventilation systems were found to be operating below recommended performance levels.

Anne McIntosh, the MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey has since raised concerns about the impact that this closure will have on the local community, as reported in the Yorkshire Post, she said: 'There has been a failure by the primary care trust to maintain this vital facility at Malton. This closure has happened at extremely short notice. It will be incredibly disappointing for those patients who were waiting for an operation to have been told it will have to be rearranged. There has been a distinct lack of transparency from the trust over funding and I suspect that the motivation for the running down of these facilities is financial.'

The chief executive at Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Mike Proctor, said that the closure was vital, he said: 'As part of an annual check, the ventilation systems in the operating theatres in both Whitby and Malton hospitals have been found to be performing below the required standards. As a result of this, it was agreed to suspend the use of these theatres from this week.

'To bring these theatres up to standard will require significant investment. Clearly such a decision would require due consideration and would be taken in the context of the North Yorkshire Review. It is reasonable to expect that this decision would be taken in the next three months.'