Save Bridlington Hospital

Campaigners fighting to save services at an East Yorkshire hospital are urging people to show their support as a petition carrying almost 40,000 signatures makes its way to London.

Mick Pilling, chairman of the Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group, is encouraging supporters to wave off a team of representatives when they leave Bridlington train station with the petition bound for London tomorrow.

Mr Pilling said: "It will be leaving Bridlington Railway Station at around 7.15am, bound for Kings Cross, London.

In June last year, Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, decided to close maternity services at Bridlington, moving births to the hospital in Scarborough.

Then in December, the trust backed plans to transfer the hospital's cardiac monitoring unit and acute medical services to Scarborough General.

An NHS overview and scrutiny committee has referred the decision on maternity services to Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

The plans for the cardiac and acute services are now also expected to be referred to him.

Bridlington Hospital not only supports the town, but is vital to patients in neighbouring towns including Driffield, Hornsea and the surrounding villages.

The cuts will see patients from those areas having to travel to either Scarborough or Hull.

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HOSPITAL PETITION ON ITS WAY TO LONDON
Campaigners fighting to save services at an East Yorkshire hospital are urging people to show their support as a petition carrying almost 40,000 signatures makes its way to London. Mick Pilling, chairman of the Save Bridlington Hospital Campaign Action Group, is encouraging supporters to wave off a team of representatives when they leave Bridlington train station with the petition bound for London tomorrow. Mr Pilling said: "It will be leaving Bridlington Railway Station at around 7.15am, bound for Kings Cross, London. In June last year, Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, decided to close maternity services at Bridlington, moving births to the hospital in Scarborough.
Then in December, the trust backed plans to transfer the hospital's cardiac monitoring unit and acute medical services to Scarborough General. An NHS overview and scrutiny committee has referred the decision on maternity services to Health Secretary Alan Johnson. The plans for the cardiac and acute services are now also expected to be referred to him. Bridlington Hospital not only supports the town, but is vital to patients in neighbouring towns including Driffield, Hornsea and the surrounding villages. The cuts will see patients from those areas having to travel to either Scarborough or Hull.

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