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The message was clearly emblazoned across our front page. BREAKING NEWS: COUNCIL BACKS HOSPITAL CAMPAIGNERS08 March 2007 Campaigners fighting to protect services at Bridlington Hospital have received the backing of an influential East Riding committee. Members of East Riding Council's NHS Overview and Scrutiny Committee said they want existing services, which are under threat of closure, to be retained. Plans by Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust, which manages the hospital, include withdrawing the "home from home" birth service and reducing acute medical care, including the coronary care unit. Councillor Rowan Blake-James, who chaired the meeting, said: "The committee's role is to act as a lever to improve health services for local people. There has bee huge public opposition to these proposals and there can be no doubt the view and aspirations of the local community are not being met." The consultation on the future of Bridlington hospital ends on Friday, March 16. 'OPPOSITION TO HEALTHCARE PLANS IS OVERWHELMING ... TO IGNORE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE'08 March 2007 They asked for people's opinions - and thousands have given a resounding response that cannot and must not be ignored. East Riding residents have voted with their feet, marching through the streets and packing public meetings to voice their objections to controversial plans to make drastic changes to hospital services. And now they are asking officials to listen to their concerns and reject proposals to remove beds from community hospitals and put them into private nursing homes. Residents in towns and villages across the East Riding have been campaigning for months to save the beds at community hospitals in Beverley, Hornsea, Withernsea and Driffield. Under proposals from the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), 57 beds could be removed from the four hospitals and relocated in new units and private care homes across the region. Campaigners today sent a final plea to the PCT to listen to the "overwhelming" opposition to the proposals. Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness and chair of the East Riding Health Action Group (ERHAG), said: "The consultation has been useful for showing how united everyone is in opposing these proposals. "MPs, town and parish councils, East Riding councillors and professionals involved in the delivery of health services have spoken out. "If the trust is listening they will see people wish to see services retained. "There is overwhelming opposition to all the proposals. To ignore this would be unacceptable." The plans have come under fire from campaigners, MPs, local councillors and healthcare professionals. More than 16,000 people backed the Mail's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign calling for all services at the region's community hospitals to be safeguarded. Since the latest public consultation was launched in November, about 700 people have signed a Mail petition against the new plans, which was due to be handed to the PCT today. Thousands of others have signed their own petitions and handed them to the trust. About 40 Royal College of Nursing and Unison members and GPs at local practices have spoken out against the plans. And just last week, East Riding Council's NHS and Social Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committees decided to reject the proposals, a move that was expected to be backed by the cabinet today. Barbara English, of the Beverley Health Action Group, said: "I found it astonishing three MPs spoke before the committees at last week's meeting. That shows the amount of pressure the PCT is under and the board members have to listen. "Everyone has said no to these proposals. The government white paper on health is entitled Our Health, Our Care, Our Say. If there is any truth in this, the PCT has to listen to what people want." The PCT is now expected to collate all the feedback received and present the information to the board of directors. The board will then review outcomes of the consultation process. A decision is expected to be announced at the board's next meeting at 10am on March 28 at Burnby Hall, Pocklington. Claire Wood, interim chief executive of the PCT, said: "We have received a high number of responses to our consultation. "We are encouraged by the interest communities have taken in their health services and offer assurance that all views received will inform the final decision on the proposed model of care. 'PROPOSALS IGNORE GEOGRAPHY OF AREA'08 March 2007 Health professionals in the East Riding have backed the campaign to protect services in community hospitals.Withernsea doctor Robert Fouracre believes his patients would see a reduction in services under the trust's proposals. He claims if there were no beds in the hospitals, people from the area would be forced to go to the acute hospital in Hull for treatment because new facilities in Bridlington and Goole would be too far for patients and their families to travel. He said: "The proposals they have put forward for level two care are inaccessible to our patients. The strategy ignores the geography of the area. "Public transport to Bridlington and Goole is via Hull so I cannot see that we would access the proposed community hospital facilities because it doesn't make sense to admit patients from Withernsea to those places. "This would mean a lot of patients we now admit to Withernsea would end up being admitted to the acute unit in Hull. "As one of the rationales behind the proposals is to try to reduce admissions to the acute units, this does not make sense." Dr Fouracre also believes having the community hospital at Withernsea allows GPs to care for their patients throughout their illness. He said: "The local GPs go round the hospital every day and see the patients so we know what their condition is. "The proposals will mean a reduction in services for patients because they won't provide facilities close to people's homes." Nursing and auxiliary staff have also supported the campaign. More than 40 staff at Withernsea Hospital, who are members of Unison and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said they were against the proposals to remove beds from the unit. Wendy Train, assistant RCN officer for East Yorkshire, who is on secondment from her role as ward manager of Hornsea Cottage Hospital, said: "Staff are disappointed with the proposals and strongly oppose any bed closures. "In some cases, patients may have to travel up to 50 miles to access beds if they are moved to Bridlington and Goole." 'WE WILL NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT'08 March 2007 Campaigners today vowed to continue their fight to protect beds and services at four East Riding community hospitals.Residents from each of the towns have prepared written responses to the proposals that have been handed to the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) ahead of today's deadline for the end of the public consultation. But the resounding message today was that they will continue to fight to retain hospital services. Residents in Hornsea and Withernsea are planning marches on two consecutive weekends to show their opposition to the proposals. Protesters will march from the Marine Hotel in Hornsea at 2pm on Saturday to the hospital, where a rally will be held. Joan Heathershaw, secretary of the Hornsea Health Campaign Committee, said: "We feel we have given it our best shot to persuade the PCT people don't want the proposals. "But we will carry on fighting." On Saturday, March 17, campaigners will meet at Valley Gardens in Withernsea at 2pm and march to the hospital. Withernsea mayor Stuart Woodruff said: "It is vitally important we campaign against hospital closures and the serious loss of services while the PCT is making its decision." Campaigners in Driffield and Beverley were handing over objections to the proposals right up to the end of the consultation. Barbara Hall, chair of the Driffield Hospital Defence League, said: "We handed a document to the PCT yesterday that says we want to keep the hospital and have more services. "We are going to continue our fight to retain the beds and the minor injuries service." And Barbara English, of the Beverley Health Action Group, said a 6,250-name petition was delivered to the PCT yesterday. WHAT THE PCT WANTS TO DO08 March 2007 Under plans by East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), all patient beds would be removed from community hospitals in Beverley, Hornsea, Withernsea and Driffield.They would be placed in new units in Bridlington and Goole and privately-run care homes and additional bed spaces would be created across the region. The PCT has outlined its draft proposals for the future of community healthcare in a report outlining how community services would be split between level one and level two services. Level one services, which would be provided at the four hospitals, include: A 24-hour by-appointment minor injuries unit. Rehabilitation and palliative care for people with long-term conditions. General rehabilitation. Therapy and screening services. Routine diagnostic tests and minor procedures. Routine treatments, including the administration of drugs. Level two services, which could be provided at Bridlington, Goole and possibly one other hospital, include: About 60 beds for overnight care. A walk-in minor injuries unit. Specialist diagnostic tests. A day surgery. Intensive general rehabilitation support. Specialist day treatments, including chemotherapy. The report is available on the trust's website at www.erypct.nhs.uk A decision on the way forward will be made by the trust's board of directors on March 28. PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL SUFFER IF PLANS GO AHEAD07 March 2007 Working in the health service, Wendy Train believes the loss of hospital beds is felt hardest in small communities.Wendy is an assistant officer for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in East Yorkshire. She is on secondment from her position as ward manager at Hornsea Cottage Hospital. Thousands of people believe healthcare is under threat from proposals put forward by the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust. A number of GPs and more than 40 members of the RCN and Unison in the area have backed campaigners and the Mail's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign. They have objected to plans that include moving 57 beds from community hospitals at Beverley, Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea to new units in Bridlington and Goole and private care homes across the region. Wendy believes the loss of hospital beds would be a major blow to these small communities. "I know change has got to happen and we have got to move forward, but I'm not sure the changes are always best for the patients concerned," she said. "One of my biggest concerns about these proposals is that patients are going to be asked to travel to Goole or Bridlington for a bed. "I know there are plans to put some beds in nursing homes, but currently there aren't any facilities in the area. "Nursing at home is much better for the patient and their families if that is what they want, but people can't always be given the care they need in their own homes and some homes aren't suitable to nurse people in. "We have got to look at what patients want. The idea of caring for people closer to home is great if they can go into a facility like the existing community hospitals. "But Bridlington and Goole aren't closer to home for a lot of people. "If people don't have a car and the public transport links aren't very good then it is more difficult and more expensive for patients and families to get to the facilities. "I'm not sure moving facilities to these places will be of best advantage to the patient. "From personal experience, I know the community hospitals can provide an invaluable service to patients and their families. "Eight years ago my mother died of cancer at the age of 63. "She was transferred to Hornsea Cottage Hospital from Hull Royal Infirmary. "She wanted to come back to Hornsea because she knew the staff who worked here and she was in the area where she wanted to spend her last few days. "She died two days after being moved to Hornsea, but during those days she was visited by people who hadn't been able to get through to Hull to see her. "Speaking from my own experience of working at Hornsea, I know it is an important part of the community. "There are a lot of good charity organisations that have donated a lot of equipment over the years and even holidaymakers who come to stay for the summer hold events to raise money for the hospital. "Everyone in the community has been involved with the hospital at some point in their lives and we have had a lot of feedback from patients who say they feel comfortable there. "There are many cases where patients may have had a fall and been to the acute hospital for treatment. "At a certain stage they might not need to be in the acute hospital any more, but they aren't well enough to go home. "In a community hospital setting they can get physiotherapy, support from nursing staff and help with their rehabilitation. "When they do go home, they can get care from the intermediate care services, but sometimes their homes need modifying and extra equipment needs installing before they can return home, which means they may have to wait. "In cases such as these, the community hospital beds are used as step-down beds. "If they are removed where will these patients go? They will either be blocking an acute bed when they don't need to be in an acute hospital or they will be in an area away from where they live, which deprives them of their family. "We do need more services in the community. Any clinics we run at the hospital are very busy at the moment and we could do more. "Staff would be very much in favour of new services, but we can't disadvantage the area by losing what we have got already. "Communities need services and staff want to provide the best they can for the people of the area. "The patients' wishes need to be taken into account." I'LL FIGHT TO BITTER END08 March 2007 Hornsea resident Jean Waters believes the town's hospital provides an invaluable service to the communityShe has been campaigning to safeguard hospital beds. The 59-year-old suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. "As a patient with a chronic illness, it is reassuring to know there is a hospital close to my home," she said. "My husband is disabled and we have a young grandson living with us. "If I had to go for treatment at Bridlington or Goole they wouldn't be able to come and visit me. "If I have an attack I want to be able to be treated in my local hospital without having to travel far. "When my husband was ill recently he was taken into Castle Hill. "I'm in a wheelchair so family members had to come from Hull to Hornsea to pick me up and take me to see him and it was half a day's drive for them. "I couldn't get to see him as often as I wanted. It was heartbreaking. People won't be able to go and see their loved ones as easily." Jean also has reservations about receiving treatment in a nursing home. She said: "At 59, I don't think a nursing home would be a suitable place for me to receive treatment. "I have worked in nursing homes before and I know I wouldn't want to go into one if I was ill. "I would be very distressed if we lost the beds at Hornsea hospital. "But my story is just one of many. There are hundreds of people who would be affected if this went ahead. "I'm still prepared to fight against these proposals to the bitter end." A SHOW OF STRENGTH ...07 March 2007 More than 16,000 people have backed the Mail's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign to safeguard all services at the region's community hospitals.Since the latest public consultation was launched in November, about 7,000 people have signed a Mail petition against the new plans. About 40 Royal College of Nursing and Unison members and GPs at practices in the area have spoken out against the proposals. The county's three MPs signed a motion in Parliament urging the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to rethink its plans. East Riding councillors are expected to oppose the proposals at a cabinet meeting tomorrow. This follows a decision by the council's combined NHS and Social Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee to reject the PCT's strategy for community healthcare. Protesters across the region have been campaigning to stop the removal of beds from community hospitals in Withernsea, Driffield, Hornsea and Beverley. Hundreds of people attended a march in Beverley on New Year's Day. Withernsea town councillor Marian Mead handed a 2,575-name petition to the PCT at a public meeting in January. Last week a petition of more than 8,000 signatures was handed to the PCT by residents of Driffield and surrounding villages. And groups in Hornsea and Withernsea are organising two protest marches on March 10 and 17. 'I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS IF IT WAS GOING TO COMPROMISE PATIENT CARE'06 March 2007 Dinah Fuller works with patients across the East Riding on a daily basis.She is a nurse consultant in stroke and intermediate care, having set up a care service for stroke survivors six years ago. A big part of her work surrounds rehabilitation within nursing and residential homes. Today, she is speaking in favour of proposals to change the way healthcare is delivered in the region. Thousands of people have seen the plans, put forward by the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), as a threat to healthcare. They include moving 57 beds from community hospitals at Beverley, Driffield, Hornsea and Withernsea to new units and private care homes across the region. The proposals have led to campaigners demonstrating in the streets, handing over petitions and packing public meetings as part of the Mail's Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign. But Dinah looks at the plans from a different side. She believes the changes would be positive and would help provide better care in communities. She said: "A big part of the proposals are about expanding intermediate care services across the East Riding. Intermediate care is there to support early discharge from hospital and help prevent unnecessary admissions. "The way I would envisage it working is having seven or eight nursing and therapy teams spread across the East Riding. "By strengthening the skills and the number of professionals within each of these community teams, we would be able to do a lot more for people in their own homes, both by preventing unnecessary admissions to hospital and facilitating earlier discharges. "If a patient was not at a point where members of the team felt able to support them at home there would be an option for them to go to a hospital bed, which would be an NHS-funded bed in a nursing home or a bed in a community hospital if their needs were greater. "The team would decide where was best for each individual. "We have to turn around the current situation where some people are going into an acute hospital unnecessarily. "We are in a situation where it's often difficult to discharge patients from an acute hospital bed because there isn't the infrastructure in the community to provide the support they need. "There are already good multi-disciplinary teams working and we need to recognise the high standards of professionalism among nursing and therapy staff within the existing services. "We need more infrastructure and for that we need additional care staff and equipment so we are able to react and respond when needed and not just resort to sending patients to an acute hospital when they don't need to be there. "I strongly believe we have to look at healthcare in the East Riding differently. "My own experience of working with staff in nursing and residential homes has been very enriching. It's about engaging with professionals across different areas and it works very well. "Speaking as a professional, I wouldn't support anything that was going to compromise patient care. "Most people prefer to be in their own homes and that aids recovery, as long as they know they are getting the support they need, and therapy taking place in someone's own home is much more realistic. "Clearly if a patient is unwell and needs to be in an acute setting the team would send them to hospital. "If people are really in need of acute medical care, they are admitted to hospital and that isn't going to change. "What hopefully will change is that we will be able to get out to see people more quickly, get them back on track more quickly and prevent them going to an acute hospital if they don't need to. "Whatever happens, it will take time. It won't happen overnight and no service can be stopped until there is something to replace it BRINGING HEALTHCARE INTO THE HOME06 March 2007 A Major part of the PCT's strategy for community care involves delivering services in people's homes or care homes.With a growing elderly population, the East Riding has a large number of vulnerable people who may need a level of care, but may not necessarily need admitting to hospital. These include patients recovering following treatment in an acute hospital, patients needing palliative care and patients with long-term illnesses. Under the proposals, the majority of these patients would be managed in their own homes by locally-based teams of therapists and nurses, which would link in with GP services. Matthew Groom, joint head of physiotherapy services for the PCT, said a number of patients would benefit from having care at home. He said: "From my point of view, as a therapist, these proposals are positive because there will be more rehabilitation in people's homes. "There has been a lot of work done around rehabilitation services and there is evidence to show people recover better in their own homes than they do in a hospital environment. "For example, when a patient has had a stroke and no longer needs medical care, but requires rehabilitation, their treatment is all therapy based and that can take place anywhere really, either at home or in a supported environment such as a care home. "From my own work I have seen practising daily tasks is much more relevant to patients if they are in their own environment. "By expanding community services we will be able to respond better to people's needs. "For example, if a frail, elderly patient has a fall they are likely to need rehabilitation quickly. "If we had teams in place they would be able to get out to people, which would stop the patient being admitted to hospital unnecessarily." A Major part of the PCT's strategy for community care involves delivering services in people's homes or care homes. With a growing elderly population, the East Riding has a large number of vulnerable people who may need a level of care, but may not necessarily need admitting to hospital. These include patients recovering following treatment in an acute hospital, patients needing palliative care and patients with long-term illnesses. Under the proposals, the majority of these patients would be managed in their own homes by locally-based teams of therapists and nurses, which would link in with GP services. Matthew Groom, joint head of physiotherapy services for the PCT, said a number of patients would benefit from having care at home. He said: "From my point of view, as a therapist, these proposals are positive because there will be more rehabilitation in people's homes. "There has been a lot of work done around rehabilitation services and there is evidence to show people recover better in their own homes than they do in a hospital environment. "For example, when a patient has had a stroke and no longer needs medical care, but requires rehabilitation, their treatment is all therapy based and that can take place anywhere really, either at home or in a supported environment such as a care home. "From my own work I have seen practising daily tasks is much more relevant to patients if they are in their own environment. "By expanding community services we will be able to respond better to people's needs. "For example, if a frail, elderly patient has a fall they are likely to need rehabilitation quickly. "If we had teams in place they would be able to get out to people, which would stop the patient being admitted to hospital unnecessarily."
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