Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

Councillors in Wirral are calling for plans to close walk-in centres and minor injuries units to be scrapped.

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Wirral Council's health scrutiny committee last night called on the local Clinical Commissioning Group to come up with new proposals to retain and improve existing services rather than merge them with Arrowe Park hospital.

The CCG thinks it would be better for patients if the centres are closed, but Dr Abhi Mantgani who works at a minor injuries unit in Birkenhead disagreed.

Wirral council has been criticised for failing to follow protocol in 90% of complaints made against its members since 2012 – one of which took four years to process.

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Complaints against elected councillors in Wirral have only been completed in the set time scale in 10% of cases during the last six years, figures discussed at a meeting of the authority’s standards committee showed on Wednesday.

Councillor Chris Blakeley, who was the subject of a complaint on file for four years, called the 90% figure “absolutely appalling”, adding: “We have a responsibility on this committee to look out for members of the public. To allow these things to drift is unacceptable."

Chris Jones said: “I am generally happy with the protocol we have got. It just needs small changes.”

But members were told a new “tightened” system would be made which will set a six-month time limit on the entire complaint process, except in unusual circumstances, and contain “some sort of progress tracker”.

Parents are being urged to get children vaccinated against measles after a number of new cases in Wirral by Public Health England.

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Wirral Council said there have been five confirmed cases and six probable cases in recent weeks all involving children and young adults who have not had the MMR vaccine.

Councillor Chris Jones, cabinet member for adult care and health, said it was a "safe and effective way" of protecting against measles and mumps and rubella.

“The vaccine is quick, free and available from your GP," he said.

"It only takes a few minutes to check but it could be potentially life-saving, for your own family and those around you."