SAVE Bridlington Hospital Campaign Act ion Group campaigners are pledging to continue the fight after managers decided to withdraw vital services – the six - bed cardiac monitoring unit ( CMU ) is to be taken to Scarborough Hospital. Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health care Trust's board of directors have agreed to move ahead with plans to transfer Bridlingto Hospital's CMU and acute medical services to Scarborough despite five opt ions being available to them. This decision has angered our campaign group which has been fighting to keep the facilities at the hospital for the past five years . But we say the fight is not over yet . We vow to keep up the pressure on managers and would now like to know what the people of Bridlington would like to do ne xt . It is your choice. Should we have another petition or hold another mass protest , in Ma r c h?

Have your say by writing t o : Mick Pilling , chairman , Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Act ion Group ,
12 New Pastur e Close,
Bridlington ,
YO16 7NT .

You can also send e-mails t o : [email protected]

The trust has stuck to its guns about removing the CMU from Bridlington , even though people have categorically stated they do not want it removing. I believe the five options set out by the trust board should have been put to the people affected by these decisions . We collected 22,500 signatures against hospital cuts and almost 3,000 people turned out and marched to save t hese services . So I am very disappointed the trust has taken this view . We will continue to campaign to keep the CMU in Bridlington because it is a lifeline. Its removal to Scarborugh , some 22 miles away , could result in the possible loss of life.

Our group believes the trust's cashflow crisis has been caused by poor mana gement . When I questioned trust chief executive Iain McInnes at t he board meeting last month he sa id they had looked at all the op t ions and recommended t his as the best way forward. The board agreed to explore the recommended option but said a final decision on t he hospital 's future was unlikely to be made until March this year .

However , we feel t he trust is using a smoke and mirrors approach. The trust says it will be putting some thing back in to Bridlington but it will be a glorified community hospital. So , people of Bridlington , let us know how you want us to carry on campaigning on your behalf , to protect Bridlington Hospital.