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Urgent Care Centres Hillingdon 2025-09-10
10 September 2025
Lead MP
David Simmonds
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
ImmigrationAsylum & Refugees
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
David Simmonds raised concerns about urgent care centres hillingdon 2025-09-10 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
This Adjournment debate is on the future of the minor injuries unit at Mount Vernon hospital. The loss of this unit runs contrary to the 10-year plan set out by the government. More than 20,000 people have signed a petition expressing concern about the closure and calling for reconsideration. The unit is valued by local residents for its accessibility and efficiency in treating minor injuries without overwhelming A&E departments. Schools also rely on it to treat children injured during school hours. Closure would exacerbate pressures on A&Es, particularly given the unique challenges faced by Hillingdon hospital due to Heathrow airport’s transient population and high numbers of asylum seekers and those in immigration detention. The unit’s closure could lead to higher costs per visit and increased use of more expensive A&E services.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Supports caution about merging minor injuries units with urgent care A&E, citing concerns about waiting times for teenagers and the overall impact on service quality.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Acknowledges positive steps towards rebuilding Hillingdon hospital but expresses concern over the closure of Mount Vernon’s minor injuries unit.
Gagan Mohindra
Con
South West Hertfordshire
Highlights that Mount Vernon is even more critical due to delays in refurbishing Watford General Hospital, emphasising its role as an important capacity provider for surrounding areas.
Danny Beales
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Supports Simmonds' concern about the impact on local residents and agrees that more accessible services are needed closer to where people live.
John McDonnell
Ind
Hayes and Harlington
Expresses scepticism about future plans and urges for a comprehensive plan that will be held to ensure the needs of constituents are met.
Government Response
Minister's response not provided in the given text The Minister acknowledges the concerns raised by MPs from Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Hertsmere, Beaconsfield, South West Hertfordshire, East Harrow, and Hayes and Harlington. She explains that the trust is planning to consolidate urgent care services at Hillingdon hospital site and believes it would be more efficient for urgent care services to be concentrated there. The Minister also mentions the roll-out of primary care hubs in Hillingdon as part of the 10-year plan. She confirms a meeting with the integrated care board, local authority, and trust on Friday where further consultation will take place. The Minister asserts that decisions affecting constituents should be made locally rather than from Whitehall, but she promises transparency through NHS performance data tools. We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This is what the 10-year long-term plan is based on—moving services from hospital into the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. We expect local NHS leaders to make this happen with local clinical leadership in the best interests of the populations they serve, and we expect open and transparent communications going forward. Local politicians have an important role in that, which Members present in the Chamber have demonstrated ably, and will continue to do so. I would be very happy to maintain contact with the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner regarding the wider implications of the issues he has raised, and I commit to writing back to him about the consideration that is being given to those wider implications. I note his concerns and am happy to continue working with him.
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