HEALTH chiefs have unanimously given the go-ahead to plans to save £28 million over the next three years including controversial proposals to axe 600 jobs. Sir Michael Carlisle, chairman of Scarborough Health Trust, told board members yesterday that he wanted to see a “smaller and more efficient hospital” as a result of the cost-cutting exercise.

The proposals also include the centralisation of maternity services at Scarborough Hospital resulting in the closure of units at Bridlington, Malton and Whitby.

Sir Michael said there was a real threat of a Section 19 order being put on the trust which means it would have been declared insolvent by the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority, with management of services transferred to either Hull or York.

He said: “Unless these measures are put in place there is little doubt that the matter will be taken out of our hands.”

Iain McInnes, chief executive, told people at the Norton meeting that the trust had to be “the right size for current and future needs”.

John Blackie, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council's scrutiny of health committee, said he had spoken to many consultants at the hospital since last week's shock announcement and, one of them, John MacFie, had claimed Scarborough Hospital would be reduced to Community Plus status if the cuts were given the go-ahead.

Scarborough councillor David Billing, vice chairman of the scrutiny of health committee, added: “The consultants and indeed the rest of the staff at Scarborough Hospital feel very badly let down by the proposals in the financial recovery plan.

“People understand that the board has had to deal with a very difficult financial position but none of us expected the bombshell which has been dropped.”

Another Scarborough councillor, Jane Kenyon, who is a member of the health trust board, said its historical debt had “hung like a noose around its neck”.

She said: “I was just as amazed at the scope of the proposals as everyone else but, after very careful consideration, I am convinced there is little else we can do.

“This Trust has had a debt since it was formed and the tendency has been to shoot the messenger instead of dealing with the problem.

“You might say actions taken in the past have treated the symptoms instead of treating the actual condition itself.”