Health forum thanks residents after petition campaign

Dr Clarke also praised forum members Sarah Hutchinson, Ann Kemp, Paul Gibson and Bridlington Mayor, Cllr Angela Walker, who helped gather more than 1,300 signatures for local MP Charlie Dewhirst’s petition against the closure of the care unit at Bridlington Hospital.

He handed over the petition sheets as part of a protest outside County Hall, in Beverley, ahead of a meeting to discuss the issue.

East Riding of Yorkshire Councillors called for a pause regarding the care unit proposal at the Extraordinary Health, Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on Monday, May 11.

Councillors also asked York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to conduct a ‘proper consultation’ during the pause.

Dr Clarke said: “We are pleased that our councillors were prepared to hold the ICB and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to account.

“It was also good to meet other residents from Bridlington, both outside County Hall and later in the public gallery at the meeting, because there is no doubt that the councillors present recognised the strength of public opinion and the lack of any engagement or formal consultation with the community.

“The trust has been instructed to consider a delay in closing the unit while further consultation occurs, and has been asked to provide evidence to the committee regarding the potential knock-on consequences of the closure, as there is significant concern about whether there are currently sufficient community health and social services in place to avoid unsafe discharges and to prevent readmissions.”

MP Charlie Dewhirst, whose petition to keep the unit has accrued more then 4,000 signatures, said ahead of the meeting: “It was a great showing at East Riding of Yorkshire Council to protest the planned closure of Brid hospital’s BCU.

“While the decision remains an NHS one, I was pleased to see the council hold an extraordinary meeting to grill NHS leaders and ask more about the impact on East Yorkshire residents."

Caire Hansen, chief operating officer at the trust, told the meeting: “This is a managed service change in line with the aim of providing care closer to home (in line with the HNS 10-year plan). The scope of the change is limited to the beds that are in BCU with Kent, Lloyd and Waters wards not impacted.

“Planned surgery, outpatients, rehabilitation and other services also continue unaffected.

“BCU currently serves patients from a range localities, but it can be challenging to find patients that meet the admission criteria due to it being GP-led.

“Diverting investment to the community means East Riding patients can be discharged home directly without an unnecessary step in their recovery journey.

“Funding is being diverted to support services so patients can be supported when they return home from hospital.”

Go to tinyurl.com/5x6dpt97 to watch the full meeting on YouTube.