Proposals had been made to shut the facility this month
Bridlington and District Hospital(Image: Google Maps)
The proposed closure of the Bridlington Care Unit has been postponed following widespread backlash. The ward at Bridlington and District Hospital, which cares for the elderly, was due to close this month.
Earlier this year, the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board made a joint statement in which they said the unit was only ever designed as a temporary measure, having been set up during the Covid pandemic.
The announcement of the planned closure was quickly met with criticism, including from the Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, who described the proposal as “disastrous”, adding it would “result in the worst possible outcome for patients and staff.”
The MP for Bridlington and the Wolds, Charlie Dewhirst, set up a petition calling for the “deeply concerning” closure to be scrapped. The Conservative MP’s petition went on to receive close to 6,000 signatures.
East Riding Of Yorkshire Council’s Health, Care, and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny sub-committee also raised concerns over the proposed closure. Members recommended delaying the closure amid concerns as to whether the demand from the unit could be sufficiently absorbed elsewhere. The sub-committee also called upon the local NHS to develop a monitoring framework to capture the impact of the change.
The trust has since confirmed it will review the proposed closure. A spokesperson from the trust said: “We recognise the strength of feeling locally about the proposed closure of Bridlington Care Unit and are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share their views.
“Having considered the recommendations made by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, along with feedback from patients, staff, local residents and stakeholders, the Trust has agreed to review the planned closure while further work is undertaken.
“Over the coming months, we will work with Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and our partners to provide further assurance about community services, strengthen engagement, and clearly set out our longer-term vision for healthcare services in Bridlington. We are committed to ensuring that local people have the opportunity to understand the proposals, share their views and help shape future plans. Our priority remains providing safe, sustainable and high-quality care for local people.”
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Reacting to the update, Mr Dewhirst said: “This most fantastic news is a result of the campaign we have managed to mount together locally. Thank you so much for all of your support – from the almost 6,000 people who signed the petition I presented to Parliament, the Bridlington Health Forum, and everybody else at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and others who have put the pressure on the NHS Trust to make the right choice.
“The NHS Trust have recognised the strength of feeling regarding the proposed closure, have acknowledged their regret at the unacceptable sequencing and timing of their engagement on this, and also that they need to do more to regain the trust and confidence of East Yorkshire residents. Having postponed their decision in order to review local concerns, including the readiness of other community services, the Trust have promised genuine and open engagement with residents over the summer. I remain firmly opposed to this closure and will continue to fight to protect local rehabilitation capacity and expand our local health services.”
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