By Alexandra Wood...Yorkshire Post

THE controversial closure of a hospital ward has been delayed as demands are too great.

East Yorkshire Conservative MP Greg Knight, unions and staff have been up in arms about the decision to shut the 23-bed Thornton Ward at Bridlington Hospital.

The Trust, which runs Bridlington and Scarborough hospitals, had been planning to close
the ward on Monday – but say they are so busy it has to stay open for the time being.

Campaigner Mick Pilling said the move vindicated the concerns.

Just a fortnight ago four beds in the cardiac monitoring unit, which was controversially closed last November, were temporarily reopened for rehabilitation cases, he said, adding: "It's the wrong time of the year to be closing anything like this.

"When all is said and done Scarborough is continually having a beds crisis. It's not just now and again. It is every week."

A Trust spokeswoman said: "Like all trusts, we are currently experiencing a high level of admissions to our wards.

"Additional beds have been opened at Scarborough Hospital however, in order to cope with this increased demand Thornton Ward at Bridlington Hospital will remain open and will not close as planned on Monday. This will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

"Staff have been informed and they will be kept regularly updated. We would like to thank staff for their cooperation and understanding at what is proving to be an extremely busy time. It is disappointing that we cannot carry out the refurbishment of Bridlington Hospital as planned."

The Trust said the ward closure is part of contingency plans for a swine flu outbreak but opponents fear it is a smokescreen for cost-saving.