Save Bridlington Hospital

East Riding: Campaigners today said they were prepared to stump up £90,000 to save services at an East Yorkshire hospital.

They said the cash could be raised by the end of the week to halt controversial closure plans at Hornsea Cottage Hospital.

The cash would cover the cost of running the hospital's 22-bed inpatient ward for six months, which the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT) is closing on Sunday, October 1.

The money would be donated by Hornsea Cottage Hospital League Of Friends, Hornsea Town Council and individuals.

The PCT said the closure would protect patients at a time when staffing levels are low. The move is due to be reviewed in March. Today, East Riding Council's NHS overview and scrutiny committee was being urged to call on the PCT to suspend its decision so the legality of the closure is examined.

Hornsea ward Councillor and member of the NHS overview and scrutiny committee Barbara Jefferson said: "People and organisations should not have to dig into their own pockets to protect vital hospital services.

"But feelings are running so high, they are willing to raise the £90,000 by the end of this week."

Hornsea resident Allen Murrey, of Draycott Avenue, said: "The inpatient ward is vital. I hope the League Of Friends and town council are successful in saving it."

WE'LL PAY TO KEEP OUR HORNSEA COTTAGE HOSPITAL OPEN

12 September 2006

Campaigners today said they were prepared to stump up £90,000 to save services at an East Yorkshire hospital.

Angry campaigners said the cash could be raised by the end of the week to halt controversial closure plans at Hornsea Cottage Hospital.

The £90,000 would cover the cost of running the hospital's 22-bed inpatient ward for six months, which the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT) is closing on Sunday, October 1.

The money would be donated by Hornsea Cottage Hospital League Of Friends, Hornsea Town Council and individuals.

The PCT said the closure would protect patients at a time when staffing levels are low. The move is due to be reviewed in March.

Today, East Riding Council's NHS overview and scrutiny committee was being urged to call on the PCT to suspend its decision so the legality of the closure could be looked at.

Hornsea ward Councillor and member of the NHS overview and scrutiny committee Barbara Jefferson said: "People and organisations should not have to dig into their pockets to protect vital hospital services.

"But feelings are running so high, they are willing to raise the £90,000 by the end of this week."

One of the campaigners' biggest fears was that ward staff were needed to work in other hospitals, such as Withernsea and Driffield.

Cllr Jefferson said: "The PCT obviously have insufficient staff to keep things going in the wider community and our hospital is suffering because of that."

Cllr Jefferson said she would also urge the full council to join the fight to save the hospital.

Hornsea resident Allen Murrey, of Draycott Avenue, said: "The inpatient ward is vital. I hope the League Of Friends and town council are successful in saving it."

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart is already seeking a High Court injunction to prevent the ward closure.

Ten beds in the ward were closed earlier in the year. In the six months from January to June there were 92 admissions.

The beds are used for those recovering from surgery, suffering from terminal illnesses or in need of long-term medical care.

Hornsea deputy mayor Mike Smallwood said: "The Government funds the NHS with the taxes we pay, but even so, we are prepared to use funds for the defence of our hospital."

Ernie McGeagh, vice president of Hornsea Cottage Hospital League Of Friends, said they already had a fighting fund in place for the hospital.

He said: "I cannot say how much we have in the fund, but we will certainly do our bit towards raising the £90,000."

The PCT issued a statement when the Mail asked if it would suspend its decision in return for the £90,000 donation.

It said: "The PCT stresses the decision to close the inpatient ward was taken to address staff shortages being experienced across the East Riding which, without immediate action, would affect the clinical safety of our services.

"This short-term change is being made in the interest of clinical safety."

A spokeswoman for Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she could not comment on individual cases, but would be kept informed.

12th September 2006

Mick Pilling (chairman) Save/Support Bridlington Hospital Action Campaign Group writes:

When a Trust or PCT comes under fire or are backed into a corner; they revert to the Safety Issue regarding staff issues; we had to close wards, or MIU, or other departments because of staff shortages; what as happened to contingency plans, have they been dismissed or laid off?

Over the years I have been fighting these so-called Trusts & PCT's they rely solely on hype & spin.

Hospital all over the country have laid off staff; there are thousands of Nurses looking for work......so why the Staffing Issue?????.....The real reason for this cut is a deficit of Millions of £££'s in debt; but, Trusts & PCT's fudge the truth we fully believe.

As Hornsea League of friends and other are stumping up the money of £90,000 to keep this vital service of a 22 bed ward in-patient open you would think someone would respond and say thank you......but what do we get? Excuses.

These hospital services have already been paid for by income tax reflected in wages; everyone as paid for years, (fact)

What about the people, residents, visitors & patients of Hornsea, do they have to really travel in excess of 20 to 40 miles to other hospitals when the town as offered to pay the bill to keep this hospital open for the next 6 months, what are your views contact e-mail: [email protected] anytime

Regards Mick Pilling

HEALTH TRUST FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO WARD CLOSURE PLAN

13 September 2006

Ten of the ward's 22 beds were closed earlier this year. There were 92 admissions from January to June.

East Riding Council's overview and scrutiny committee met yesterday and decided to ask the PCT to go out to public consultation on the closure.

Committee chairman Councillor Rowan Blake-James said: "We appreciate the PCT is in a nightmare scenario trying to balance the books, but the proposal is a substantial variation on the trust's turnaround plan, which did not mention bed or hospital closures.

"We are entrusted with a role to represent the community and, on balance, we will be requesting a public consultation."

PCT chairman Karen Knapton told the committee: "Hand on heart, it was not our intention to temporarily close the ward.

"But we cannot look at beds in Hornsea Cottage Hospital in total isolation - we have to look at the bigger picture across the area. This is about having things clinically safe for all staff and patients, and managing the budget."

Unions acting for 60 staff at the hospital say they are angry they were not consulted.

John Fleming, regional officer for public sector trade union Unison, said: "We have advised staff not to co-operate with the PCT over any temporary positions they may be offered until the ward is re-opened. The unions are also calling for meaningful talks with the trust to get this devastating decision reversed."

Other unions involved in the action are Amicus and the Royal College of Nursing.

SEE YOU IN COURT

13 September 2006

Campaigners are taking the fight to preserve hospital services to London's High Court.

Pressure was today mounting on Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT) to stop its planned closure of Hornsea Cottage Hospital's inpatient ward.

The PCT is to close the ward for six months from Sunday, October 1 because of staff shortages.

But solicitors acting for two patients have told the PCT they will apply to the High Court for a judicial review if the decision is not reversed by Friday.

London-based law firm Leigh Day and Co has outlined proposed legal action in a letter to the PCT.

The patients' legal challenge to prevent the closure has been organised by Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, who appealed for patients who would be eligible for legal aid to come forward.

Now, Hornsea residents Jean Waters and Christine Monkman have answered the call and the solicitors are acting on their behalf.

Mrs Waters, 59, of Pickering Avenue, suffers from a severe breathing complaint, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

She said: "The hospital is a lifeline for me. I have been in and out of the hospital since I was diagnosed with COPD 14 years ago, and it will only get worse, so I'll need the hospital even more in the future.

"If the ward closed, I would face at least an hour's drive to Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, if I had an attack and was struggling for breath."

Christine Monkman is currently in the hospital being treated on the closure-threatened ward.

If granted, the judicial review would look at the legality of the PCT's closure plan, examining whether the correct procedures were followed.

The solicitors argue the PCT did not meet legal requirements, as the closure decision was taken without consulting patients or East Riding Council's NHS overview and scrutiny committee.

Their letter to the PCT states that unless it confirms it is reversing the decision by Friday, the patients will apply for a judicial review and "interim relief will be sought to reinstate admissions to the hospital".

MP Graham Stuart thanked everyone who got in touch with him about the legal challenge and added: "It is reassuring to know people feel so strongly about their community hospital and we hope to get the decision overturned."

Ten of the ward's 22 beds were closed earlier this year. There were 92 admissions from January to June.

East Riding Council's overview and scrutiny committee met yesterday and decided to ask the PCT to go out to public consultation on the closure.

Committee chairman Councillor Rowan Blake-James said: "We appreciate the PCT is in a nightmare scenario trying to balance the books, but the proposal is a substantial variation on the trust's turnaround plan, which did not mention bed or hospital closures.

"We are entrusted with a role to represent the community and, on balance, we will be requesting a public consultation."

PCT chairman Karen Knapton told the committee: "Hand on heart, it was not our intention to temporarily close the ward.

"But we cannot look at beds in Hornsea Cottage Hospital in total isolation - we have to look at the bigger picture across the area. This is about having things clinically safe for all staff and patients, and managing the budget."

Unions acting for 60 staff at the hospital say they are angry they were not consulted.

John Fleming, regional officer for public sector trade union Unison, said: "We have advised staff not to co-operate with the PCT over any temporary positions they may be offered until the ward is re-opened. The unions are also calling for meaningful talks with the trust to get this devastating decision reversed."

Other unions involved in the action are Amicus and the Royal College of Nursing.

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