| Health watchdogs are asking Alan Johnson to step in over plans to cut services in East Yorkshire.
Members of a joint scrutiny committee, formed by councillors from East Riding Council and North Yorkshire County Council, said they will refer a decision to cut maternity services at hospitals in Bridlington, Malton and Whitby to Health Secretary Mr Johnson.
They will call on the Hull West and Hessle MP to review the decision, made by the governing Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust earlier this year, on the grounds it is not in the interest of local health services.
Councillors have also vowed to refer forthcoming decisions on the future of Bridlington Hospital's cardiac monitoring unit and acute services to Mr Johnson.
Councillor John Blackie, co-chair of the joint NHS overview and scrutiny committee, said: "The trust said the maternity services are being moved to Scarborough in the interest of patient safety, but there are no questions about the safety record of those units.
"There is a concern they are being closed under the mask of clinical safety, but the real driver is financial.
"We have also said that if the trust goes down the route of taking away the cardiac monitoring unit and acute medical care from Bridlington Hospital, we will refer that to the Secretary of State for Health as well."
Campaigners fighting to protect services at Bridlington Hospital today welcomed the move.
Jean Wormwell, secretary of Pensioners Action Group East Riding (Pager), said: "The proposals for Bridlington should be looked at very carefully.
"It is necessary to get Alan Johnson involved and I hope he is going to take an interest."
Mick Pilling, of the Save Bridlington Hospital Action Group, said: "If Alan Johnson can step in and do something about this now, it might allow people to get on with running Bridlington Hospital as it should be."
Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust recently faced criticism after announcing proposals to axe 600 staff posts in a bid to clear its historic debt of £20.7m.
But the trust was given a reprieve when the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority agreed to "park" the historic debt.
However, the trust still needs to make savings of more than £10m by the end of the financial year.
The joint committee is currently preparing its case and intends to send it to Mr Johnson by the end of October.
Mr Johnson may make the decision himself or refer it to an independent reconfiguration panel.
|