STAFF at Scarborough, Bridlington, Whitby & Malton Hospitals have now been told that "many" jobs will have to go and at least 16 hospital beds lost to sort out the Scarborough NHS Healthcare Trust's cash crisis, as revealed
Iain McInnes, (interim) chief executive of Scarborough NHS Healthcare Trust, said, yesterday the plan to save £12m in the next two years will "not be without pain" and a public consultation due to take place between December 06 and March 07 will "become very emotional".  Staff were told of the changes by Mr McInnes in a series of meetings held at respective hospital.

He said efforts to save money will be centred on efficiencies rather than cutting services.
However, he then unveiled a number of controversial proposals including:..... Mick replies underlined! 
* Closing Maternity Units at Whitby, Malton and Bridlington Hospitals. Making Expectant Mothers travel miles?
* Reducing the Number of Beds in Scarborough Hospital by at Least (16).... This is not good enough, waiting lists will get longer!
* Cutting Jobs in the Trust through Natural Wastage and a Strict Recruitment Policy.... All ready 100 staff have gone (January 2006)
* Reducing the Number of People Admitted to Hospital,  waiting lists will get longer!
* Reviewing Acute Services at Bridlington Hospital.  This can spell only one thing, moving them to Scarborough! 
* Not re-opening (MIU) at Bridlington Hospital for the foreseeable future until Out-of-Hours Doctors have been consulted with a view of working together within the Minor Injuries Unit? In September, the Evening News revealed that a report to the Scarborough NHS Trust by accountants Price, Waterhouse, Cooper recommended that at least 99 posts at the trust would have to go.

Mr McInnes said: "We still hope to avoid compulsory redundancies by careful vacancy management and moving away from employing staff on temporary contracts.

"We are, however, reviewing staffing levels and structures throughout the Trust, including management structures, nursing structure, admin and clerical support and medical staff.

There will be some services we'll need to look at closely, to determine if these are appropriate."
The plans have been criticised by the health watchdog which monitors services delivered by the Trust and Scarborough MP Robert Goodwill.

Leo McGrory, chairman of the Public and Patient Involvement Forum, said: "I am very concerned about these proposals. The sums just do not seem to add up and if posts are not filled when a person retires or moves to another department that still means jobs have been lost.

"Scarborough Hospital already operates on one of the lowest staff to patient ratios in the country and I believe patient care is bound to suffer if further staff reductions take place."

Mr Goodwill said: "The trust want to repay a debt which is about 13 per cent of its total budget for last year. The figures do not add up."

Mick Pilling (writes) about Bridlington & District Hospital

Good morning/afternoon to all from Mick Pilling (Chairman) Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group

As reported, the Waters Have Broken for the Maternity Service , at Bridlington Hospital, it as been on the cards for sometime, first we asked the Trust; 3 years ago for this Unit to be up-graded, little or nothing was done or achieved, the Trust kept on moving the goal posts so that most if not all expectant mothers would end up at Scarborough to give birth?  Expectant mothers I have spoken too say; At Scarborough its ship-em in and ship-em out procedure leaves a lot to be desired, also its not unusual to give birth and sent home shortly after to make room for others?  With Bridlington, Whitby & Malton Maternity Units closed Scarborough is going to be very busy! The Ambulance Service will also after cope with the extra work involved; also The Minor Injuries Unit at these three site have had there opening hours reduced by as much as 12 hours over-night; this also as a strain on the Ambulance Service in this region.

On the JOB situation; If the Trust lays off staff? Does not replace staff; Does not re-new contracts of temps or learning staff; Gives early retirement packages to staff due to leave/near to retirement; then the sums will not add up.....We will be short of Nurses!  Moral is at an all time low with some staff leaving because they have no job security.

The £2,000 to £3,000 raised by the people of Bridlington for the Maternity Unit for a New Birthing Pool 2/3 years ago; will have to be returned to the group who raised it so they can use it for something else; it cannot be left in the Trusts big-pot to be lost forever!!!

Lets all face it ; the Trusts are out to save money at all costs; consultation will not make a difference when they have all ready put the cuts in place; these Trust organisations are a law unto themselves.

The photo shows the Chief Executive been presented with a 22,500 signature Petition; asking for the Minor Injuries Unit to be re-opened 24/7 and for services not to be cut at Bridlington Hospital; lets hope it does not fall on deaf ears?

Mick Pilling (Chairman) Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group