Hospital trust in search for partners

Hospitals in Scarborough and Bridlington have come under increasing scrutiny over their financial and clinical sustainability.

Yesterday, bosses admitted they faced a "difficult position" as they were unlikely to meet clinical and financial targets for the organisation to become an elite foundation trust as required by 2013. The failure would "impact on our ability to deliver certainty to our clinical services provision and staff on all our sites".

Instead said they were approaching managers in York with a view to securing a deal to secure the long-term future of services.

In a statement, they added: "The board firmly believes this strategy will enable the organisation to further build, develop and extend our clinical alliances and partnerships with other neighbouring trusts to provide the highest quality health services for the people of North and East Yorkshire."

Patrick Crowley, chief executive of the York trust, said talks involving NHS chiefs in the region to determine a way forward for the Scarborough trust had been under way for some months but the organisation was yet to formally respond.

"All partners are hopeful that we can continue the alliances and partnerships already developed to provide health services for this population," he added.

Officials from the Care Quality Commission warned earlier this month of "serious concerns" about standards at the Scarborough trust, mainly related to staffing shortages and the quality of its infrastructure.

Future measures could include sharing staff, with some patients travelling further for more complex treatment.