We are all now very aware of the latest proposals made by the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust as they try to remove beds from 4 local hospitals within our rural area; they include Withernsea; Hornsea; Driffield & Beverley Westwood. There idea is to remove at least 60 beds from these 4 hospital and to put those services in possibly Goole and Bridlington Hospital; would this then see the demise of these 4 hospitals as the PCT nibble away at there services making the 4 hospital unable to cope with local demand.

The NHS is free at the point of entry as we all know; what the PCT are doing by there proposals; transferring these vital services from 4 smaller hospitals to other hospitals named as Goole and Bridlington is nothing more than a cost saving exercise. The hope by the PCT putting these 60 beds into two hospitals they can then monitor patients and release them early back into the community; each bed costs in excess of between £150.00 per day to as much as £250.00 per day; i.e. if a patient were in hospital for approx 10 days but the Trust thought the patient could go home early; say 4 days early; the Trust would save a substantial amount of money; the patient would then be look after in the community by Social Service or Community Healthcare Workers; the patient would then have to apply for care.

As we have said; NHS free at the point of entry; in hospital all care is free and you are looked after by professional in most cases.

Now who picks up the tab? You are now home and back into the community; your local council then picks-ups all such bills; Social Services and Community Healthcare Workers are employed by the Local County Councils so if you need care to get better and recuperate you have to apply; just one problem; you have to be accessed; then you play the waiting game because there will not be enough care workers to go around; the Council have just moved the goal-posts; care was banded into 4 categories band A/B/C/D but now the council have dropped bands C/D so getting care will and could be much harder.

Yes! But who pick up the Bill for this care in the community? You the public; because it's very possible that your Council Tax will have go up by 1 or 2 % to meet the cost; very cunning by the Primary Healthcare Trust; Joe-public pays twice.

Make sure you vote against these proposals by the ERofYPCT; it's essential.

Did you know? 2 Wards @ Bridlington Hospital to close Waters/Buckrose

It has come to my attention this week (2nd March 2007) that the Mental Health will suffer: Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust has plans by Consultation on the East Riding Division Proposed Re-Structure and Service Re-Design 23rd February 2007

Plans To CLOSE : Waters Ward & Buckrose Wards at the Bridlington & District Hospital these two wards care for the Mental Health Elderly Patients in the area of Bridlington with a population of approx 45 thousands; the leases for the 2 wards runs out approx 2010 but a released document states it could close the wards much earlier; possible September 2007 . Could this be yet another “nail in the coffin” at the fated Bridlington Hospital ?

What will happen to the 17 staff on each ward? What will happen to the patients ? Will they have to travel to other sites in the community for treatment? Will they have to travel has fair away as Hull in this restructure? Will they be treated at home? But there is no money in the community; Social Services are reported to be £3.5m in the RED! Will this also go on to Council Tax hiking-up all bills for the future? Demand Action now! Support the Staff; Patients and the Bridlington Hospital . 

A copy of this Document will be placed on our Website in due course