MP questions hospital's empty beds following £1.25m revamp

Five beds remained closed yesterday on the newly-refurbished Ryedale Ward at Malton Community Hospital because of staff shortages.

NHS bosses have confirmed that while this is partly due to the number of staff on holiday, there is a plan to spend more on caring for patients in the community while cutting beds available for admissions.

Anne McIntosh, MP for the Thirsk, Malton and Filey, pressed the Government on the issue during Health Questions in the Commons, saying she feared the downgrading and or even closure of the Ryedale Ward.

She questioned Health Secretary Simon Burns on why the ward faced reduction and potential closure in spite of opposition from both the staff and patients.

The Tory MP said she was very impressed when she recently visited the newly renovated ward. She continued: "I am concerned with both the reduction of beds and the potential loss of the whole ward.

"The Minister of State wrote to me to stating that, 'all future service changes must be led by clinicians and patients', so I am cannot understand why this newly renovated ward would be closed against their wishes.

"The Minister kindly offered to meet with me over this issue and I will continue to press for a satisfactory outcome for both clinicians and patients alike."

She told the Commons clinicians and patients oppose the downgrading and possible closure of the Ryedale ward of Malton hospital and called on Mr Burns to block any such change.

Mr Burns responded that reducing beds and diverting staff into the community was part of the PCT's ongoing strategy for Malton. "However, given my Honourable Friend's concerns, I would be more than happy to meet her to discuss the issue further," he added.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, Ryedale Ward, built in the 1970s, was refurbished earlier this year with en-suite rooms, a new sitting/dining area and improved treatment and therapy facilities following a complete electrical and plumbing upgrade.

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

Managing Director for Mental Health Services Janet Probert assured staff and local people that there were no plans to close Malton Community Hospital and that the service was committed to maintaining bed provision in Malton.

She added: "There are currently five beds closed at the hospital due to reduced staffing numbers, annual leave and a large number of beds which had remained vacant.

"It is proposed to incrementally alter the balance between resources in the community and the inpatient areas, by slowing reducing the number of beds open for admission and slowly transferring staff into the community.

"This forms part of an ongoing strategic plan for Malton which has been discussed with our staff and health care colleagues in the area."

She said officials had also able to learn from the success of the Hospital at Home scheme which ran in the Ryedale area from

September 2009 to March this year.

"The scheme enabled some patients to be supported at home who would have otherwise been admitted to hospital whilst the refurbishment of Ryedale Ward took place."

She added: "It is absolutely clear that there will always be a need for inpatient beds at Malton Community Hospital for those patients whose

health needs cannot be met at home."