CONTROVERSIAL proposals to close the x-ray service at Milford Hospital and refer patients to a new facility being opened at Cranleigh Hospital will be subject to further scrutiny following a public outcry.

League of Friends (LoF) chairman Jacquie Robini was shocked to learn by chance in February the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust intended to close the service – which saw more than 5,000 patients between April 2017 and 2018 – without any prior consultation with interested parties, including LoF and the many GP surgeries which use the service extending into East Hampshire and West Sussex.

A protest petition gathered nearly 800 signatures in a week.

The trust has now announced it is working with NHS Guildford and Waverley Clinical Commissioning Group to carry out a data- driven assessment of what x-ray capacity is needed and where that could be provided.

It will look at how services are currently being used, potential future demand, travel times and other factors.

Both the trust and the CCG have committed to involve stakeholders once the assessment has been analysed.

Welcoming the announcement Mrs Robini said: “It is vital to use current data before making major decisions that affect so many people.

“We held a constructive meeting with the trust and were pleased to hear they will now be following proper process and consult with all those involved.

“We are very glad they are conducting an up-to-date assessment of x-ray capacity and future demand, which will take the amount of new housing planned for the Waverley CCG area into consideration.

“We are very aware this does not guarantee the future existence of Milford’s x-ray unit and will be keeping a close eye on the process. The unit is increasingly busy, but operates only part time, so there is opportunity to increase its capacity by opening for longer hours.”