HEALTH bosses decided to keep Skipton's Physical Rehabilitation Unit open - on the day it was due to be closed temporarily.

A spokesman for Craven, Harrogate & Rural District Primary Care Trust said the decision had been made at an Airedale NHS Trust board meeting on Friday.

However, as non-operational managers they didn't know in what form the unit would stay open.

Chief Executive of Airedale NHS Trust, Bob Allen, said: "We are using our best endeavours to maintain some service at Skipton General Hospital, but the nature of that service has yet to be agreed between the health partners."

The reversal of the temporary closure is yet another twist in the ongoing saga, which started when the Trust put forward proposals to scrap the nine bed PRU and send patients instead to a new stroke ward at Airedale General Hospital.

Opponents claim that the new ward will not replicate the work at Skipton, which was aimed at patients with a wide range of rehabilitation needs rather than just strokes.

It is understood the beds have not been removed from the PRU, but only the ward manager is working so it will function as a day time unit.

Plans for the temporary closure came in for harsh criticism because the consultation process is due to continue until Monday December 15.

This process is currently being overseen by a North Yorkshire County Council scrutiny of health committee, who could refer the matter to the Secretary of State for health should it find the process flawed or the closure of the unit not in the best interests of the health service itself.

Chairman of the scrutiny committee, County Coun John Blackie said: "I welcome the decision to keep Skipton's PRU open for the present time.

"It will certainly help in consultation to ensure that the very unit we are consulting on should remain open rather than be closed."

A further meeting to discuss the unit's future will take place on Wednesday December 3 at 6.30pm at Skipton Girls' High School, when the committee will meet to consider the evidence and make their decision on the consultation process.

Financial reasons have been blamed for the proposals to move patients from the PRU to Airedale.

In a recent committee meeting Dr Paul Godwin, medical director of Airedale NHS Trust, said a growing financial crisis meant tough decisions would have to be made about the future of health care in the district.

Two of the services which may see cuts are child health care and maternity. He added that some services were too specialised and too expensive for a small district hospital.

Mr Godwin told the Herald: "This year the Trust is heading towards a financial deficit that needs to be addressed and obviously, as a result, services are under review. The two services mentioned at the committee meeting, child health and maternity, are not under immediate threat, but the long-term viability of services at Airedale should be in question."