The Bridlington Town Council had its monthly meeting last night 11/09/07 at 7.00pm on the agenda was the invitation for Chief Executive Iain McInnes to address the council and explain to the council what the future of Bridlington Hospital's was; the council chambers were attended by many of the towns residents wanting to know the future and many questions were asked by the town council and members of the public.

Mr. McInnes was asked about the future of the Cardiac Monitoring Unit (CMU) and also Acute Medical Wards and service; his reply was; we are now in talks with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and with Professors Alberti & Boyle also with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) he said the CMU & Acute Medical could not be sustained for the future at Bridlington and that talks being held now would see the CMU & Acute Medical transferred to Scarborough Hospital, it is not if; its more like when, the future looks very grim.  The town now feels the CMU & Acute will go sooner or later & its future Doomed.

This news as angered the town, it would mean patients both Cardiac & Acute would be taken 22 miles to Scarborough or Hull.

The cost to the YAS would be in the region of £1.2m to £1.4m to put on extra crews to cope with the patient increase, in a nut-shell the cost of keeping open the CMU & Acute is very costly.

The future of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) the answer was yes it will re-open soon as plains were been discussed for its future, NO date was given for the re-opening?  Could well be next year some time?

Most of Mr. McInnes time was taken up by waffling, no real answers of Yes or NO, with Mr. McInnes was his side-kick Dr Ian Holland Medical director and the new chief of finance.  Town's people and councillors made it quite clear that Lives Could Be Lost by taking more patients to Scarborough A&E; he was asked why not build on the present services within Bridlington Hospital he stated it was all down to cost.  He was reminded that the Yorkshire coast roads were a nightmare in the Summer and Winter months, it is not unknown for the A165 to be blocked by snow or adverse weather condition, this was noted.

Asked about the 600 jobs that could have been lost, his reply was we have to balance the books, the historic debt had been down to bad previous management and had accumilated over the years; he also stated the debt was not wipe-out but is sat on the fence for the time being, giving the Trust a chance. He also stated that Maternity Units in Bridlington, Whitby & Malton would close as soon as proceedures and mid-wives were in place, time-scale was now estimated at approx 15 months.

The council and residents stated with all that is going on at Bridlington Hospital we will be left with nothing, Mr McInnes then stated that more day cases work would done.   Agreement from clincians to increase the range of patients suitable for day case surgery at Bridlington;  Emergency Medician consultant led assessment service should be established within next few weeks. This seems like a part-time hospital to most people? The Brid/Hosp Lawrence Unit will further develop assessment clinic for elderly.

The Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group asked through the chair if Chief Executive Iain McInnes would come back in approx 2 months to give the Town council a full up-date; Mr. McInnes agreed.

The Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group We are planning a very large Protest, Rally March, Saturday 20th October 2007 @ 10.00am from Morrison's Supermarket March up Bessingby Road to Bridlington Hospital. The Town wants to keep its Cardiac Monitoring Unit & Acute Medical wards & Services this March is to high-light feeling people beleive Bridlington Hospital should be built on and not down grade because of cost.

HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT

The Bridlington Town Council up-held ther vote of NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SCARBOROUGH NHS HEALTHCARE TRUST