Hospital bosses have again defended their decision to end overnight services from Grantham Hospital's A&E department.

The comments follow campaigners yesterday marking the 5th anniversary of the closure of such services by issuing a statement.

As Nub News reported yesterday, both Coun Ray Wootten and Jody Clarke of Fight for Grantham Hospital, pledged to continue their campaign.

ULHT told Nub News today: "In August 2016 the decision was taken to reduce the opening hours of Grantham A&E due to significant staffing issues and concerns around patient safety across the Trust.

"This decision was scrutinised by a number of bodies and the Independent Reconfiguration Panel concluded that the reduced opening hours should remain in place until a long term model for Grantham and District Hospital had been agreed."

The spokesman continued: "Emerging options for the long term model were shared widely and discussed openly as part of the Lincolnshire NHS Healthy Conversation 2019.

"Any future proposals for permanent, significant NHS service change will be subject to a full public consultation exercise led by the NHS Lincolnshire CCG."