JEREMY Hunt has played down fears that Haslemere’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) may not be safe from closure after all, after the town facility was dragged into a national debate between the Government and NHS England.

It has been widely reported that Health Secretary Matt Hancock wishes to reform the NHS to seize more control for central government, amid frustration at the role NHS England has played during the coronavirus pandemic.

And it seems this dispute is being played out on a local level too, with notes of a recent meeting between Surrey County Council and NHS England revealing health service chiefs took exception at Mr Hancock’s statement in the House of Commons in December that Haslemere’s MIU would remain open.

Mr Hancock’s declaration came in response to a question by South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, amid concern that Haslemere’s MIU would not comply fully with the new standards for Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) and may have to close.

And it was hailed as a major victory by Mr Hunt during his successful re-election campaign.

However, according to the council minutes, members of Surrey’s Adults and Health Select Committee were told the secretary of state’s intervention “ran contrary to the official NHS England (NHSE) guidance in terms of UTC standards, and that any decision to change Haslemere MIU into a UTC would need to be supported by NHSE”.

It adds an “assurance process” to be undertaken by NHSE would determine whether this would be supported by the regulator.

And most stinging of all: “It was explained that commissioners, not the secretary of state for health, have the legal duty and responsibility for local commissioning decisions.”

Responding, Haslemere county councillor Nikki Barton said: “My key concern is that the public may assume that the future of the MIU in Haslemere is safe following the secretary of state’s intervention, which unfortunately is clearly not the case. I understand that both Milford and Cranleigh are actively preparing their cases as the possible UTC site of choice going forward.”

However, Mr Hunt has played down the concerns, commenting: “The health secretary gave me his word in the House of Commons that the MIU would not be closed and he is the boss so whatever processes were or were not followed I am confident that will remain the outcome.

“I think it is important not to stoke up worries – I have had no signals in public or private that the future of the MIU is at risk.

“What we need to know now is what the plans are to develop it going forward.”