Save Bridlington Hospital

By Mark Branagan YORKSHIRE POST

THE arrival yesterday of a new chief executive to a crisis-hit health trust was given a lukewarm response by a health campaigner who claimed he would be a "paper tiger" unless he freed it of crippling debts.
Richard Sunley has taken over the reins of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust – the sixth person in the top job in as many years.

Many of Scarborough and NE Yorkshire NHS Trust's problems are financial. The organisation, which also runs Bridlington Hospital, is £7.5m in the red despite more than £20m of debt being set aside by the Government two years ago.

Mr Sunley wants to start balancing the books this year and accepts the frequent changes at the helm have not helped the trust, one of only six in the country rated weak by the Healthcare Commission for both quality of service and use of resources.

The new chief executive, who has been working closely with interim Chief Executive Christine Green, and the trust's executive team, over the past two weeks, is now officially in post.

His background is the award-winning Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he was director of operations. Originally from Rotherham, he is moving to Scarborough with his wife and two young children.

He said yesterday: "I am delighted to be here in Scarborough and look forward to meeting and working with staff from across the Trust.

"There's no question that we have challenges ahead of us as we continue to deliver and improve the quality of healthcare for the local community.

"However, I am more optimistic than ever, having now started to meet the staff and patients, that we can continue to build on the good work that has always provided the people of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire with top class healthcare."

Trust Chairman Sir Michael Carlisle added: "Richard's extensive experience and contribution to the NHS to-date equips him well to do the job at Scarborough and I am looking forward to working closely with him."

But Mick Pilling, chairman of Bridlington's Save Our Hospital's Campaign, said Mr Sunley's appointment came when public confidence in the trust was at its lowest ebb.

He added: "We would like to see him start from the beginning and put back into Bridlington what the hospital was designed for. It has been stripped of its assets and patients are told to go to Scarborough if it's anything worse than a cut finger or a blister."

A six year campaign to persuade health chiefs to provide better facilities at the local hospital came to nothing despite a petition signed by 40,000 people and marches by 7,000 protesters.

One of the biggest challenges the new boss will have to face will be seeking foundation status for Scarborough Hospital.

Without it, Scarborough will be vulnerable to takeover bids by bigger trusts such as York – creating the risk of more services being centralised and longer journeys for the sick, which Mr Pilling claims would lead to casualties.

Mr Pilling said: "We know he comes very experienced but he has a lot of work to do and we need to know what the situation is regarding the funding and debt if he is not to be just a paper tiger.

"The financial problems have not gone away and if he has taken on the historic debts his hands are tied before he starts.

"All he can do then is save money, as his predecessors tried to do, and we will find in 18 months that he will be gone too."

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Debt warning for health chief - YORKSHIRE POST

By Mark Branagan YORKSHIRE POST THE arrival yesterday of a new chief executive to a crisis-hit health trust was given a lukewarm response by a health campaigner who claimed he would be a "paper tiger" unless he freed it of crippling debts. Richard Sunley has taken over the reins of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust – the sixth person in the top job in as many years. Many of Scarborough and NE Yorkshire NHS Trust's problems are financial. The organisation, which also runs Bridlington Hospital, is £7.5m in the red despite more than £20m of debt being set aside by the Government two years ago. Mr Sunley wants to start balancing the books this year and accepts the frequent changes at the helm have not helped the trust, one of only six in the country rated weak by the Healthcare Commission for both quality of service and use of resources. The new chief executive, who has been working closely with interim Chief Executive Christine Green, and the trust's executive team, over the past two weeks, is now officially in post. His background is the award-winning Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he was director of operations. Originally from Rotherham, he is moving to Scarborough with his wife and two young children. He said yesterday: "I am delighted to be here in Scarborough and look forward to meeting and working with staff from across the Trust. "There's no question that we have challenges ahead of us as we continue to deliver and improve the quality of healthcare for the local community. "However, I am more optimistic than ever, having now started to meet the staff and patients, that we can continue to build on the good work that has always provided the people of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire with top class healthcare." Trust Chairman Sir Michael Carlisle added: "Richard's extensive experience and contribution to the NHS to-date equips him well to do the job at Scarborough and I am looking forward to working closely with him." But Mick Pilling, chairman of Bridlington's Save Our Hospital's Campaign, said Mr Sunley's appointment came when public confidence in the trust was at its lowest ebb. He added: "We would like to see him start from the beginning and put back into Bridlington what the hospital was designed for. It has been stripped of its assets and patients are told to go to Scarborough if it's anything worse than a cut finger or a blister." A six year campaign to persuade health chiefs to provide better facilities at the local hospital came to nothing despite a petition signed by 40,000 people and marches by 7,000 protesters. One of the biggest challenges the new boss will have to face will be seeking foundation status for Scarborough Hospital. Without it, Scarborough will be vulnerable to takeover bids by bigger trusts such as York – creating the risk of more services being centralised and longer journeys for the sick, which Mr Pilling claims would lead to casualties. Mr Pilling said: "We know he comes very experienced but he has a lot of work to do and we need to know what the situation is regarding the funding and debt if he is not to be just a paper tiger. "The financial problems have not gone away and if he has taken on the historic debts his hands are tied before he starts. "All he can do then is save money, as his predecessors tried to do, and we will find in 18 months that he will be gone too."


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