Concerns have been raised following the appointment of three new board members at a health trust.
Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust, which manages Bridlington Hospital, has had three new non-executive board members appointed by the appointments commission to replace members who have come to the end of their term.
The members are due to take up their posts on December 1 and will attend their first board meeting on December 18.
But a patient watchdog said the new members will not have enough time to get to grips with current issues before having to take part in a decision over the future of Bridlington Hospital.
Leo McGrory, chair of the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Hospitals Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum, said: "If you bring in three complete strangers, they won't be in a position to have fully understood the background. They can't possibly do it in a few days."
The trust is currently drawing up plans for the future of the town's hospital, which are expected to include the transfer of cardiac care and some acute services to Scarborough Hospital.
Residents have reacted angrily to the proposals and a recent protest march attracted about 3,000 people.
The board is expected to discuss the plans next month.
As reported on the Mail's website yesterday afternoon, a leaked report has raised concerns with standards at Bridlington Hospital.
The report, which follows an inspection by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire PPI forum, claims the hospital kitchens and toilets were dirty and corridors dimly lit. A full copy of the report is expected in the near future.
Links
Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust
www.scarborough.nhs.uk
Save Bridlington Hospital
www.savebridlingtonhospital.co.uk Comments Just how hard is it to keep a hospital clean? Soap and water with a little bleach and antibacterial liquids and of course a mop, broom and frequently changed cleaning cloths are all that is needed. If the powers that be can't do the job then it is up to us the users of these offending hospitals to take time to really complain. Take photos, be vocal and don't take it out on the nurses and doctors. Bring the management to task for not doing their jobs in ensuring we all have a clean place to be ill. There are enough illegals that would be happy to do the job if no one else will.
BREAKING NEWS: DIRTY CONDITIONS FOUND AT HOSPITAL
13:01 - 15 November 2007
A damning report has revealed dirty conditions at Bridlington Hospital.
The report, which has been leaked to the media, claims the hospital kitchens and toilets are dirty and corridors were dimly lit.
It follows an inspection by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Hospitals Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum on October 9.
The report states: "In the time our forum has been visiting Bridlington Hospital, cleanliness has declined greatly.
"Staff are coping well, given the conditions they have to work in, but it is obvious morale throughout the hospital is extremely low."
The forum would not release the full document, claiming the trust hadn't had chance to respond to it.
A spokesperson for the trust said: "The PPI forum makes an important contribution to the trust and its views are important to us.
"We have already started to address the issues raised and draw up a schedule of further work."
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