Jeremy Hunt visited East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital to discuss the facility's future

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Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, paid a visit to a Teesside hospital to discuss the future plans for the facility.

The MP visited East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital in Brotton today where he met with the South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group and had a tour of the building.

But his visit was not free of criticism - with a group of protestors gathering at the hospital.

“It is ironic he has chosen to come here seeing as the minor injury unit will be closing in a couple of weeks,” said Bill Suthers, Labour councillor for Guisborough, who was among those stood outside.

From April 1, the minor injury units at both Guisborough and East Cleveland Primary Care Hospitals will be closed.

Instead, people requiring treatment for a minor injury will need to attend Redcar Primary Care Hospital’s urgent care centre.

The changes were announced last year following a public consultation.

Protestors outside

But in response to his “ironic” visit, Mr Hunt said he was there to discuss the hospital’s future and what services will be brought in.

“I have been going around with the local doctors and they have been talking about the new services that they are going to be putting in this hospital,” he said.

“They are going to be different to the types of services we have had before because we have an ageing population. We have one million more older people than we had just five years ago and that a different type of service.

“But in terms of emergency care we are treating more people, more quickly than ever before. But the way you deliver that care obviously is a local decision and it is very important that local MPs are responsible in what they say and paint an accurate picture.

“The truth is more money, more doctors, more nurses and an NHS locally that is doing more that ever before.”

But Tom Blenkinsop, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, branded his visit as a “slap in the face” for patients.

He said: “Now we are getting close to the General Election, Jeremy Hunt has the audacity to make this visit. He should be coming to firstly, say “sorry” to local people; and secondly, to sit down with me to discuss ways in which these services and facilities can be saved.”

Mr Hunt responded by saying that Mr Blenkinsop has had “lots of opportunities” to speak to him.

“I’m the House of Commons every week and Tom has had lots of opportunities to approach me on the voting lobbies.

“But Will Goodhand has invited me to come here and see what’s happening and what I see is a NHS that is expanding, hiring more people, and doing more than it has ever done before and I hope that is something everyone is proud of.”