| Save/Support Bridlington Hospital Meeting with Scarborough NHS Trust Management A prearranged meeting took place with members of: Scarborough & North East Yorkshire NHS Healthcare Trust Management on; Tuesday 16/03/04 at Bridlington Hospital at 2.00pm in the hospital board-room; the meeting lasted over one hour and many things were discussed with management members; those present included Chief Executive Alison Guy ; Dr Ian Holland; Gilly Collinson ; Sue Wellington and management members from Nursing. We discussed many issue; the main issue was the troubled; Minor Injuries Unit at Bridlington Hospital which at present as server staffing problems; the staffing problems are a result of Maternity leave; Illness and staff being poached by other Hospital Trusts within this Country; we were told by the Trust that advertising near and far had not yet proved fruitful but attempts at recruiting staff would go on for the foreseeable future; even advertising abroad. We were told that there is a national crisis within the NHS recruiting Nurses and one that will go on for some time; qualified nurse's posts are hard to fill; there is no quick solution; it was stated. The (MIU) at Bridlington is surviving at present by the shear dedication of existing staff; whom we take our hats off too; thank you and well done for your hard work and dedication; the Scarborough NHS Healthcare Trust as promised to keep the (MIU) open as long as possible under the present situation and will continue to monitor its progress whilst staffing is a problem; Alison Guy said; there is no quick solution and the Trust were doing there best; she also said; the (MIU) was not used at night as much as it could be and at times staff were waiting around; the present situation introduced is; on arriving at the (MIU) after 9.30pm to 08.83am; you will have to buzz the intercom installed out-side (MIU) and a member of the hospital staff will let you in to be processed and treated by staff with a doctor on-call; if you cannot be treated at Bridlington's (MIU) you will be sent by ambulance to either; Scarborough Hospital or Hull Royal Infirmary; (Accident & Emergency Departments) for treatment; we are told transport will be arrange accordingly. These measures are in place to keep the (MIU) open with the present crisis the Trust as at the moment; if things get a worse than they are now; who knows what the out-come could be for the future? Let's hope the present staffing crisis is alleviated in the future as summer approaches and the town get busier with holiday makers and visitors. Other things discussed were the vast improvements now been made in the; Endoscopy department which at present is having a major overhaul and up-grade for the better and should be finished by the end of April 2004; the new heating system will be installed very shortly when the Bridlington Hospital changes from Coal to Gas. Both Lifts are working fine now at Bridlington hospital although we were informed that the left-hand-side lift is due an over-haul in the future; the right-hand-side lift is repaired and operating magnificently; it also talks to you; tells you which floor your going to and many other functions. We the Save/Support Bridlington Hospital Campaigners were asked of our thoughts to improve services at the Bridlington hospital and many good points were raised and were taken on-board by management; the Trust are constantly presented with many challenges and under the constant control of Chief Executive Alison Guy we feel the right person is at the helm. This concluded the meeting and we were very happy with the results and the questioned answered once again.
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