Minister and MP to meet over future of hospital

Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, said she wants to discuss the Health Minister's plans that in future, "all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, and are not to be driven from the top down".

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, health bosses have assured residents that the hospital, which covers a vast area of rural North Yorkshire will stay open, but more patients may have to be treated at home because of cutbacks.

Patient watchdogs called a public meeting to discuss the future of Malton Hospital after the number of beds at Ryedale Ward – recently refurbished at a cost of 1m – was reduced from 16 to five.

Mrs McIntosh said: "I have been approached by local GPs, constituents and the North Yorkshire Local Involvement Network (LINK), who are all concerned by the uncertainty surrounding both the ward and the hospital.

"I hope that my meeting and discussion with the Health Minister will convince him of the strength of local feeling against the Primary Care Trust proposals for the Ryedale Ward at Malton Hospital and that he will ask the PCT to reconsider their proposals."

Simon Cox, Primary Care Trust director for the Ryedale, Scarborough and Whitby area, told residents that while running community hospitals such as Malton was not cheap, the trust was committed to its operation.

The hospital's main roles in the future would be to deal with urgent minor cases, rehabilitation and palliative care, provide outpatient facilities, and carry out minor and diagnostic surgery.

The meeting heard that because of a cash shortage, the hospital had nine staff vacancies in its two main wards.