Welcome to the seventh edition of "Turnaround Times", which aims to keep you updated specifically on issues related to the trust's developing plans for resolving our financial deficit position.  If you have any suggestions of how we can improve the newssheet, or any questions you wish to see answered in a future issue, please contact Iain McInnes , Interim Chief Executive, by email or through Isy Galavan . A big thank you...

Firstly, just to say a big thank you to all of you who attended the staff briefings last week and those of you who shared the information with your colleagues. Secondly, thank you for helping me to achieve my aim of ensuring staff had the opportunity to be briefed before any information appeared in the local press.

We did have to pull forward the media briefing to Friday lunchtime but we did embargo the information until 5pm on Friday evening. This meant we were able to complete the staff briefing at Bridlington Hospital.

The media seemed disappointed that we were not announcing big job losses and we were not announcing ward closures. I think they were disbelieving that we could successfully address the financial challenges without major actions.

More importantly, I hope you found the briefings useful; there were certainly some well thought through comments and questions from staff; I certainly found them useful. If you have a question to raise but were unable or did not feel comfortable asking the question in a staff briefing please remember you can still use the anonymous mail box system.

In general, trust staff seem to understand and support the need to address the financial challenge. I am sure some of you remain cynical and do not yet fully trust the management team and me. Whilst there is a degree of respect that goes with a position I realise I have to earn your trust and I look forward to a continued working with you over the next few months in making our financial recovery a reality and creating a firm base for the future of local health services.

A media view on beds...

You will have noted some articles refer to 16 bed closures.

I did state to the media, as I did to staff, that we would be seeking to close nightingale wards for refurbishment and subsequent reopening. I also stated any ward closures ward would be carefully managed in terms of timing to create minimum disruption within the hospital.

I further explained that in sub dividing Nightingale Wards we would lose a few beds on each of the wards; a small price to pay for much improved patient dignity   One reporter, not from the local paper, pursued this as a "back door way of closing beds" and pushed for a number; I responded with "a few beds per ward, possibly about 16 across the four ward areas - hence the figure of 16 bed losses.

Staff will recall from briefings that I said it was still our position that we could avoid compulsory redundancy.

This would be achieved by reviewing all our temporary contracts with a view to terminating those that we could. In addition over the next 18 months if we terminated all employed staff who were already beyond retirement age, and terminated each member of staff who reaches retirement age the Trust would save almost £1m. The same reporter made the "accusation" that we were making people redundant again by the back door and pushed for the exact number of posts. In response my estimation was that given we would probably have to redeploy existing staff into those posts that we had to replace there would probably be about 60 posts between the two categories. Hence you will have seen reference to "many job losses" and possibly even "60 jobs to go".

One of my radio interviews almost turned into an argument as I refused to agree that terminating temporary posts and not employing people beyond retirement age was the same as making people redundant. I do accept it is the same outcome in terms of reducing staff numbers but whilst I accept it does not support staff who wish to work beyond age 65 I am sure most staff will agree it is a very different position to telling permanent staff in their 30's and 40's that they are being made redundant.

Public Consultation...

I did announce that we would be going to public consultation on some potential changes as I did at the staff briefings. As you all know, this is around potential changes to maternity services at community hospital sites; and on the future role for Bridlington Hospital .

A discussion document on each of these areas will be published this week ahead of the formal public consultation from December 2006 to March 2007.

Thank you again for your continued support