Dear Mr Pilling

Thank you for your email regarding the future of Bridlington Hospital .  At the moment we have circulated a discussion document to a small number of patient groups in preparation for a full formal public consultation on the future role of Bridlington Hospital .  The Bridlington Health Forum, PAGER, Bridlington Town Council, the Bridlington GP Locality Group and staff groups are being involved with this discussion document.

The formal public consultation will being in mid-December and run until mid-March.  During this period, we will meet with Save/Support Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group.  I will ensure you receive a copy of the full consultation document.  I would suggest that you contact my PA, Isabelle Galavan (01723 342342), with a view to setting up a meeting in January or February once the Christmas period has passed.

During the consultation period, there will be a range of public meetings held in the Bridlington and surrounding area.  This will include your group, the Patient and Public Involvement Forum, Bridlington Town Council and indeed any other groups who wish to meet with us.  I can assure you that I do not fear any group and I am more than willing to meet with groups to explain our proposals and hear their views.

On the issue of the petition you handed over to this Trust, we have now had the opportunity to assess the petition and note that there is a split in signatories between local people in Bridlington, people from the surrounding area who would regularly use the Trust and a significant number of people who are visitors/tourists to the area.  Clearly these different groups have different perspectives on local services but we are particularly keen to gain the views and comments of the local people.  Those views will not be pushed away by this Trust nor will they be ignored.  A meeting with the Bridlington Town Council will take place on Wednesday 29 th November 2006 when we will be considering their views and comments on the current discussion document prior to full public consultation.

As you are aware my current position with the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust is as Interim Chief Executive.  As such I have statutory duty as Accountable Officer to ensure this Trust operates as efficiently as possible with specific responsibility that the organisation should manage itself within its allocated resources.  At the end of my period as Interim Chief Executive, subject to the post of Chief Executive for the organisation being advertised, I will have the opportunity to apply for that post if I so wish.  I can assure you it is not my intention to simply walk into the organisation, establish a number of plans that I would not personally be willing and able to see through and then leave the organisation.  With over 30 years service in the NHS, this has never been my modus operandi.

Finally, thank for acknowledging the investment in the operation theatre at Bridlington Hospital .  I also note that your group appears to have change its name to "save/support Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group" and I look forward to our positive working together to meet the health needs of the Bridlington population.

Yours sincerely

Mr Iain McInnes

Interim Chief Executive