North & East Yorkshire In the Same Frame of Mind; Stop NHS Cuts & Protect Jobs; Put a Halt to the Loss of Services; Help to prevent DEATH in this region as Scarborough NHS Trust prepare to shed 600+ Jobs & Close Wards this will be devastating for this region!

Mick Pilling Chairman  Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group (Writes)

Support this protest; sign the Petition; sick-up for your rights to a fairer NHS for everyone; These NHS Trusts should be damned Published in Scarborough Today News

MORE than 10,000 people signed a petition against cuts at Scarborough Hospital in just one day of action. Campaigners took to the streets of Scarborough and six other nearby towns yesterday, asking locals and holidaymakers to put pen to paper in protest at the threat to jobs and services in the Scarborough area health trust.

The petition urges the Government to write off around £21 million worth of debt so the trust will not have to axe around 1,000 jobs, along with vital services.

Campaigners say the petition was "organised by the people for the people".

Hospital staff and residents, who were dressed in T-shirts with the logo SOS (Save Our Services), collected signatures at three locations in Scarborough to get their message over to the bank holiday crowds. The day of action also took place in Whitby, Driffield, Bridlington, Filey, Malton and Pickering.

It is hoped to eventually deliver the petition to 10 Downing Street and the department of health.

Scarborough Health Trust announced last month that 600 jobs would be axed to save £10 million but health unions say the job losses could be nearer 1,000..

A campaign to halve the cuts was organised by the HONEY action group, which stands for Healthcare of North and East Yorkshire and is made up of doctors, consultants, nurses, porters, cleaning staff and other health workers.

Outside NatWest Bank in Westborough, Suzanne Meek, a senior sister in the outpatients department at Scarborough Hospital, campaiged as one of the lead organisers of HONEY.

Mrs Meek, 48, of Pinewood Drive, said: "The response has been excellent. People can't understand why this is happening and are adamant that this must not happen.

"This is critical to the health care of Scarborough because if they reduce the workforce then they're going to cut services. If you cut services, you are not going to have an acute hospital in Scarborough."

John Palethorpe, organiser of the Save Scarborough Hospital campaign, was also outside NatWest and said it was the first time they had had so many people queue to sign the petition.

Mr Palethorpe, 59, of Maria's Court, added: "A lot of visitors with young children and elderly parents have said that coming to the town would not be an option if the nearest hospital was 50 miles away."

At the campaign stall in the Town Hall gardens, Lesley Creasey, of Eastgate in Seamer, was "bowled over" at the number of people who wanted to sign the petition. Mrs Creasey, who is an administrator in anaesthetics at the hospital, said her 18-month-old granddaughter Molly had submitted a petition in picture form.

She said some people heard about the campaign in church and chapel and the word had "spread like wildfire".

Suzanne Tindall was part of the campaign outside the crab stalls in Foreshore Road and thought the support was amazing.

Ms Tindall, who is a sister in the outpatients department at the hospital, said: "We've had loads of local people signing and a lot of support from visitors. They think it's disgusting that they may have to be treated elsewhere."

Jeannette Richards, of Nansen Street, who signed the petition, was a staff nurse in the outpatients department but left after 24 years in March to become a GP practice nurse.

She said: "I think the campaign is a good idea but it's all very sad because Scarborough Hospital has been developed so much over the last 10 to 15 years and they're about to lose most of it." 28 August 2007 Mick Pilling (Chairman) Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group Writes: Well done Scarborough Action Group!  Our Group also have presented the Scarborough NHS Trust with a Petition of No Less Than 22,500 names; We Oppose all such cuts to services & the re-opening of the Bridlington Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit back to 24/7. We also want to protect Jobs and all services..... NOTE: So far the Trust have turned a deaf-ear!

Well done to all concerned the whole of scarborough should be delighted that they have in their midst a dedicated few who are trying to save our hospital for the benefit of us all. A special mention must go to 'THE SAVE SCARBOROUGH HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN' committee members and volunteers who worked tirelesly from 8.00am untill 4pm collecting in excess of four thousand signatures.the organiser of the campaign is still asking for volunteers to help with the campaign if anyone can spare just a few hours a week they can find a use for anyone. to volunteer ring JOHN or SANDRA on 01723 370794.