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Hospital ward closure prompts union anger

Hospital ward closure prompts union anger

A trust in Yorkshire has been criticised by union bosses for closing two wards at a hospital.

Scarborough NHS Trust has announced the closure of two emergency wards and a cardiac monitoring unit at Bridlington Hospital, much to the dismay of locals.

Following recommendations from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), a decision has been made to axe two 28 bed wards and a five bed monitoring unit.

Those requiring emergency or cardiac services will now have to travel 22 miles to Scarborough.

37,000 people signed a petition which opposed the closures and campaigners are devastated by the news. Karen Reay, Unite the Union's national officer for health, described the ruling as, 'a disaster for the citizens of Bridlington.'

'We believe that this decision, which is a slap in the face for local democracy, will put patients' lives at very great risk,' she added.

Despite the closure of the wards, the trust has stressed that the hospital will remain open. 'The future of Bridlington Hospital is very important to us,' said medical director Earl Haworth. 'We believe that this decision will ensure our patients continue to receive safe and high quality healthcare.'

  • Author: Tom Downey.

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Reader Response

Added: Friday, 5 September 2008 20:40 BST
Anonymous, Driffield, United Kingdom

Your article states people will have to travel 22 miles to Scarborough hospital, this is in addition to the miles people would have had to travel to Bridlington in the first place. The goverment says those receiving treatment within 15 minutes stand a better chance of a good recovery from a heart attack. From a lot of villages in this area 15 minutes would get you to Bridlington. In winter the drive to Scarborough hospital is not a good run. So why is the NHS/ goverment closing hospitals in the East riding of Yorkshire and making patients travel to North Yorkshire for treatment


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