To all Press; MP's; Councillors; Friends; and Amicus the Union Read and be shocked.....very shocked!!!

Scarborough Hospital NHS Trust CUTS 100 STAFF TO SAVE CASH? also at Bridlington Hospital? Here we go again; Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust; yes the very Trust that look after our welfare and care in hospital have from the 1st January 2006 cut staff by 100  at Scarborough Hospital; Relief Nurses, Auxiliary and Agency staff have been axed?  The Trust have stated that; bank staff will only be used in extreme emergencies. Now putting extreme pressure Nurses!

This as out-raged the Nursing Community who have described the treatment as utterly disgraceful our dedicated Nurses fight daily on the front-line to save lives, give first class care and nursing; management have stated they are confident that patient care is going to be maintained to a high standard but it is without doubt going to put pressure on nursing staff; will this pressure result in mistakes being made? Will nurses be so stressed with the amount of extra work they will have to take leave? Auxiliary staff keep our hospitals free of bugs and viruses and do the cleaning of wards and corridors.

Not only have they cut these vital staff Relief Nurses, Auxiliary and Agency staff but they have also banned all overtime; advertising for newly trained staff and recruitment and any member of staff leaving do-not get replaced?  We are informed, by source.

If these Relief Nurses, Auxiliary and Agency staff are needed in the future; what will happen if they have got other employment elsewhere; the Scarborough Trust are playing a dangerous game.  Most of the 100 staff employed by the Trust were given only 1 weeks notice before Christmas and told of the Trusts decision; to lay them off; shocking but true.  Disgusting; Ludicrous and Appalling voices shout!

The Scarborough NHS Trust are hell-bent on saving money; the Trust is in financial debt and very near to bankruptcy, we believe; it was reported recently that the Trust were between £4.5m and £6.8m in debt; although the Trust had stated it would break even this year 2006; but a report released by the Audit Commission found a string of serious misstatements and errors in their books?

Car-Park-Charges

As the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust proceed on the path to save money; next in line we believe is the increase in Car-Park Charges; these will be made in due course; also charging nurses and staff to park.

At Bridlington the Trust tried this last year and were met with a Public-outcry...the Trust backed-off but we believe they will try again; we are ready!  A number of staff have left the Bridlington Hospital services; these include a Gardener; several Maintenance staff and some nurses? Non of these staff have been replaced but contractors have been employed to do work; these contractors cost more money, does that make any sense?

No gritting is being done at Bridlington Hospital now in freezing conditions because there is no-one to do it....what if someone was to fall and break a bone?  Although Bridlington is a Hospital that person would be taken 20 miles to another hospital; yes Scarborough; because facilities at Bridlington have been reduced.

For the second time in 2 years; 2005/2006; No Babies were born at Bridlington Hospital; all expectant mums are taken to Scarborough because the Scarborough NHS Trust will not up-grade Bridlington's Maternity Unit or spend any money; although the Town of Bridlington donated well over £2,000 for a birthing pool; this as been in the Trusts coffers for a long time now; were is that money we ask??

In a Nut-shell

The Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust as a Major-Financial-Problem; on the receiving end is are the Public, the Patient and the Dedicated Nursing Staff.

Solution

Cut down on white collar workers and top management; Now that would save some money..... don't you think!

The above story appeared in the Scarborough Evening News Saturday 31st December 2005 other parts of this story have been added from other newspapers; to keep the public up-to-date with current events which affect the people of East & North Yorkshire

Got a story?   Contact me; our group support you.. E-mail: [email protected] Mick Pilling (Chairman) Save/Support Bridlington Hospital Campaign Group