Residents and councillors have called for the return of an X-ray department to Hinckley after the town's only facility was deemed unsafe to use.

The unit at Hinckley and District Hospital closed last Friday as its kit was found to be unfit for purpose, with patients who need the procedure now forced to go to Glenfield or Coalville.

Liberal Democrat-run Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has unanimously passed a motion calling for the facilities to be returned to the town.

Councillor Ann Pendlebury, Lib Dem, said: “It is deplorable that this Conservative government has allowed such a depletion of funding that equipment vital to the health and well-being of the people of Hinckley should be allowed to deteriorate to such an extent.

“We now have to send our local patients out of town to receive the care they need.

“Funding needs to be agreed by our government so that X-ray facilities can be returned to our town forthwith.”

West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions health services in West Leicestershire, issued a statement about the closure.

It said: “Unfortunately for safety reasons we are having to close the X-ray service at Hinckley and District Hospital with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future.

X-ray of hands. Picture: Getty/Nick Veasey.

“The equipment is old and now beyond repair and X-ray staff at Hinckley and District Hospital have previously taken additional measures to ensure the equipment can be used safely.

“However, staff can no longer use the equipment safely."

Patients who need the scan will be referred to Coalville District Hospital or Glenfield Hospital.

A woman and her husband, who have lived in the town for 40 years and who did not want to be named, had to travel to Glenfield for his recent chest X-ray.

She said: “It’s going to inconvenience everyone. Why can’t we use the Mount Road hospital or have a mobile X-ray unit?

“I think it’s bad to just shut it at a moment’s notice. They are running the hospital down to the ground.

“It used to be brilliant. It took pressure off the other hospitals."

She added that people who did not have their own transport might struggle to get to the hospitals in Coalville and Glenfield.

Borough councillor Michael Mullaney, Lib Dem, said: “While I understand that it has been closed for safety reasons, why have we not had improvements to NHS services in the town that would mean we could still have X-rays here?

Hinckley Hub, home to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

“Back in December, Tory Health Secretary Matt Hancock came to Hinckley for a photo opportunity and promising more money for our NHS.

“Yet instead of our growing area getting more health services, our local NHS is now losing a key local service.”

Last year, the Government announced £8 million in hospital funding for the town, part of which would go towards refurbishing Hinckley Health Centre in Hill Street with X-ray and ultrasound and physiotherapy facilities.

An urgent care hub, providing out-of-hours care, was also promised for the health centre, along with a unit providing day-case surgery and endoscopy unit at Hinckley Community Hospital in Mount Road.

Councillor Mullaney said: “Hinckley needs a new health facility like a walk-in centre or a minor injuries unit for the town.

“At the moment our area is being let down by a Conservative government who have ignored our area for years and failed to deliver us the NHS services our large and growing town and local villages need.”

People also aired their views about the loss on Facebook.

Deb Cotterill posted: “Sad news indeed. The staff there were superb and so efficient. Really hope it’s not lost for ever.”

Fiona Burke said she visited the department only a few weeks ago.

She wrote: “Another nail in the coffin to get this hospital shut."

She added: “My daughter has been sent an appointment at Melton Mowbray for a 30 minute surgery. Absurd.”