Hospital fury is 'scaremongering' what about the Trust removing services?

SCARBOROUGH Hospital chief Ian McInnes hit out at staff and campaigners for "scaremongering" in a talk which highlighted a tally of inefficiencies that had led to its financial crisis. Speaking at a meeting of the Southern Area Forum at Pindar School, the chief executive of the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Hospital Trust, said: "Categorically, Scarborough Hospital is not closing.

"There's no need to 'save our hospital' because no-one's taking it away. A&E will continue round the clock and the vast majority of patients will not need to travel to other hospitals.

"Some of the points raised in the press have been reasonable and sensible but some have been scaremongering, including by some of our staff. The way we deliver some of the services will be different but the impact on the local population will not be that great."

Mr McInnes, who was today due to give more details of job cuts to Royal College of Nurses chiefs, said some types of surgery might have to be performed elsewhere but that was for patient safety and Government policy.

He said: "We're concentrating on a financial strategy of breaking even. We've already got £5million in savings which has had no impact on services.

"We're currently 'managing' quite a number of vacancies by not necessarily replacing people or employing someone different ... in some areas this will have an impact on services but we're trying to manage that by making changes." He highlighted the number of elderly patients who stayed much longer than necessary because of a lack of support in the community.

Ann Baillie, one of the organisers of the Health of North East Yorkshire campaign group, said: "We have never said that the hospital is threatened with closure. We are saying that the number of jobs which are being cut will lead to a reduction in service and a more dispersed service."

Mick Pilling (writes) chairman SAVE BRIDLINGTON HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN ACTION GROUP

The Scarborough NHS Healthcare Trust are doing the 'Scaremongering' they are trying to remove the CMU Cardiac Monitoring Unit from Bridlington Hospital the CMU treats Heart attack victims and Chest pain victims in this rural area, taking this service to Scarborough would then mean patients having to travel by ambulance 22 miles to Scarborough A&E or some 30 miles to Hull Royal A&E; most patients I have spoken to have categorically stated if I'd been taken by ambulance to any other hospital I would most likely to have died. 

Any Professor from London can come to the Bridlington hospital invited and work with the Trust to help it save money, I hope there plans do not back-fire and they are responsible for the loss of life. The other removal of services the Trust have plans for could be the Acute Medical wards who could be transferred to Scarborough Hospital or be reduced to Day-case?

The Trust are looking for many ways to save vast amounts of money; nothing remains safe in the hands of this Trust. The plans to close the Maternity Unit have already been passed by the Trust board members; Bridlington, Malton & Whitby will all close in due course when the new unit at Scarborough is finished, approx 12 months.

Consultations in the minds of many are a complete waste of time and money, plans have normally be sorted by the trust before hand, we firmly believe.

Fears of Hospitals been closed are felt by many; this will not happen; but services will be removed to save money, this in-turn is a type of down grading as more and more hospitals centralise there services to save money.

What can you do?   Shout and make a noise he who shouts the loudest is the person they hear, come on our March-Protest-Rally stand-up and be counted....

Kindest regards Mick