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Meetings were held with The Rt. Hon. Greg Knight
MP on Friday, 22nd August 2003, Mr Knight was very interested as to what
the "Save Bridlington Hospital" Campaigners had to say, we raised
many issues about the future of the Bridlington & District Hospital,
Mr Knight said, he supported the S.B.H. 100% and a further meeting as
been planned later to up-date Mr Knight after a meeting with the Scarborough
& North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust on 29th August 2003 at
the Bridlington Hospital.
Trust Officials present at the planned meeting were: Chief Executive Ms
Alison Guy, Dr Ian Holland (Medical Director) & Mr Duncan Henderson
of (Personnel).
The "Save Bridlington Hospital" Group Members were: Mick Pilling
(Chairman), Dorothy Wood (Secretary), Jackie Pilling & June Baldock
(Committee members).
Some (30) questions were put to Chief Executive: Alison Guy and may I
add she indeed evaded no question and answered everyone with integrity.
Ms Guy clearly stated, Bridlington Hospital will "Not Close now or
in the Future", plans are, when the £11.7m of debt is repaid,
Bridlington Hospital will be revamped and up-graded. A financial plan
is now up and running, the Trust say it will take 3 years approx.
Any new Nurses applying for positions in Nursing and coming to work at
Bridlington Hospital are most welcome and there futures are guaranteed
rosy, fears of any closure were completely dismissed by the Trust. Any
Doctor coming to work at Bridlington Hospital would find an ideal position
& security.
Other points raised at the meeting were, Lifts, we were told these will
be repaired by December 03, money as been allocated for this purpose,
some £40,000 set aside.
The New Town Council Liaison Group which is been formed will be set-up
to keep a close watch on our Hospital for the future, Chief Executive
Alison Guy as requested she be invited to the meetings to up-date the
Liaison Group of any fears or rumours and what plans are in the pipeline
for our Hospital.
No changes are expected to be made to our, Minor Injuries Unit at this
moment in time and will continue to be Nurse Practitioner Led, a look
at the Doctor situation was mentioned and will be looked at in due course.
Funding as been the problem and remains so to date, it is a National Problem
affecting most hospitals in the U.K. It's down to New Labour to help the
NHS and put our Health Service back on course, we used to have the best
in the world.
A New manager Sue Wellington, takes over here post on Monday 1st September
2003 at Bridlington Hospital and patients can now take there problems
to her, we wish Sue every success for the future, welcome to Bridlington
hospital, I have made plans to meet Sue in the future when she as had
time to settle in, good luck Sue.
A review of Car-park Charges was mentioned and some ideas put forward,
these will be scrutinised by the Trust in due course and results can be
expected at the end of the year.
The many patients who have to travel to Scarborough constantly for Blood
Tests, X-rays & other treatments, are going to be examined by the
Trust so that patients can than have a choice of using Bridlington hospital
for these tests, we have asked for this information to be put onto appointment
letters for the future, the Trust will look into this immediately.
A review in Security was mentioned and these ideas were taken on-board,
a review in the Reception area was also mentioned and are to be looked
at.
Direction Signs within the Hospital at Bridlington are due for a overall
and this request is in hand when finance is available.
There are "NO" planned changes in place at the moment to any
department of the Bridlington hospital.
Maternity Services will remain at Bridlington Hospital for the foreseeable
future but some modernisation is planned to utilise what services we have,
I believe this is good news for all.
Priory Ward at Bridlington hospital was mentioned but the Trust have no
plans to reopen it at this moment in time, there is no funding or staff
available to operate this ward.
What Chief Executive Alison Guy did say was, if anyone had any ideas what
the Priory ward could be used for, would they let her have there ideas,
remember there is no funding available and there ideas would have to include
this. So put your thinking caps on?
Regarding Stroke & Rehabilitation, once again this subject as been
put back because of the lack of funding, may-be when the Trust is out
of Debt can the subject be resumed again.
Canteen meals have increased in price, we are told this is in-line with
inflation?
Butter as been taken off the menu for patients and the substitute is Flora,
we are told this is better for diet and health reasons?
Ambulance Services were mentioned, we were told this would have to be
taken up with TENYAS, So in due course, I will be writing to: Chief Executive
Jayne Barnes CBE to ask what her views are to the increase in work load
in Bridlington, our Ambulance service is fully stretched to its limit
at times, trying to meet Government Targets is a night-mare.
Our fully trained Paramedics & Ambulance Drivers need our support,
these dedicated men and women are our life savers, our hats go off to
them, thank you one and all.
There is still only one Ambulance crew on duty at night in Bridlington,
the other Ambulance parked near Driffield constantly ends up been directed
to Hull, this cannot be right.
The new Child-care Centre planned for Bridlington Hospital is not been
blocked by the Scarborough Trust and now lies in the hands of our Council
for Debate, we are informed, the previous site we are told is unsuitable
and unsatisfactory for its requirements.
This more or less concluded the meeting, some other items mentioned were
related to the above, over all we classed this very important meeting
as a great success and we sincerely thank, Chief Executive Alison Guy,
for been truthful & honest and for painting a rosier future for the
Bridlington Hospital.
We The Save Bridlington Hospital Campaigners will monitor our hospital
for the future and hope nothing else comes about.
Your Truly
Mick Pilling (Chairman) Fighting for the future of Bridlington Hospital.
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