MP accuses health chiefs over closure of refurbished ward

Tory MP Anne McIntosh revealed a crunch meeting has been called to discuss reopening a hospital ward which was shut by NHS bosses despite a recent 1.25m refurbishment.

Ryedale Ward at Malton Hospital has already been closed by the PCT – along with Abbey Ward at Whitby Hospital – as part of a strategy to treat more patients in the community.

Controversial proposals have also been approved to shut the minor injury services at both the Lambert Hospital in Thirsk and the Friary Hospital in Richmond, prompting concerns that patients will no longer seek treatment for ailments.

A decision on the closure of the minor injuries unit at St Monica's Hospital in Easingwold was deferred pending further discussions with locals.

But Miss McIntosh is heading into a showdown with senior health service officials, determined to make a stand, starting with Ryedale Ward.

Ryedale Ward, built in the 1970s, was refurbished less than a year ago.

A 250,000 donation came from the hospital's League of Friends, while North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services invested more 1m.

Both the Whitby and Malton bed losses are to be reviewed in March when there will be public consultations before a final decision.

Now Miss McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, is to chair a meeting between the chief executive and managing director of the PCT, and local health practitioners in Malton on November 19 over the closure of Ryedale Ward.

Miss McIntosh said, "I am delighted that the PCT have finally agreed to sit down and discuss this ward closure with the GPs, nurses, patient and community representatives, who will be directly affected by their decision.

"The Government have made the commitment that all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, and are not to be driven from the top down. This has not happened in Malton and I feel that Ryedale Ward should not have closed without the agreement of both the health practitioners and local community.

"The PCT has a policy of not consulting and discussing with those most concerned before taking major decisions on delivery of NHS services locally, ranging from ward closures to ending minor injury services at community hospitals. This has to stop."

The MP maintains the hospital at home concept was causing concern among front line NHS staff who will take longer to visit patients in the community than they could see at one time in the hospital.

She was also concerned about out of hours treatment for minor injuries when surgeries would be shut and many patients would face long journeys to A & E departments at York, Scarborough, or Northallerton.

The key thing the meeting would establish was where the campaign to reopen the wards would go once the hospital at home pilot was over.

"The main thing is to evaluate how hospital at home is working and understand precisely what the consultation process is at the end of the pilot before any decision is taken to close Ryedale Ward for good," she added.

But trust bosses have denied not listening.

Janet Probert, managing director of community and mental health services, has stated: "We are fully aware of the local concerns about our enhanced community services pilot scheme and we are working with a range of people to allay those concerns."

The pilot was part of a plan to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, enable quicker discharge from hospital and establish better follow up care for people who did need to go into hospital, she said.