Rural hospital to lose more beds

Earlier this month, NHS bosses announced plans to axe more beds at both Malton and Whitby community hospitals and transfer staff into the community.

Anne McIntosh, Tory MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, met Health Minister Simon Burns and representatives of the PCT on Tuesday to discuss concerns about the cuts at Malton.

Yesterday she said it was quite clear that PCT bosses intended to run down Malton's Ryedale Ward by stages until there are no beds left.

She is now calling for a moratorium on any more bed losses pending a showdown between the PCT, GPs, and the local community at a meeting she has offered to chair.

She said: "Following my meeting with the Health Minister, it has been decided that a meeting of local GPs, clinicians, representatives from the PCT and members of the local community would help those who are concerned over the future of Ryedale Ward, to know exactly what is going to happen and when.

"It is important that this happens before any further beds are removed from Ryedale Ward as part of the pilot scheme. This meeting will allow those who will be affected by the bed reduction to have both a clear understanding of the arrangements of the pilot scheme, and the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have to the directly to the PCT."

Malton has two wards, Ryedales and Fitzwilliam. Ryedale, built in the 1970s, was refurbished nine months ago 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.

Miss McIntosh added: "The Health Minister advised that a solution should be reached at local level and I am calling for a joint meeting between the PCT and me and all interested parties before any further announcements are made.

"It is outrageous that the PCT have not been open about their real plans for Ryedale ward, i.e. a potential closure in spite of investing over 1m in its refurbishment. The ward only reopened earlier this year."

Janet Probert, MD of Community and Mental Health Services, said: "Currently we are planning to close a further five beds in addition to the 10 currently closed to enable us to start an overnight nursing service as quickly as possible.

"This is a key part of developing an enhanced community service. We are keen to ensure the enhanced community team is fully established before the traditional increases in demand for winter begin. We will monitor the situation over the coming weeks as we trial the enhanced community team.This may lead to further beds being closed on Ryedale Ward."

She underlined the changes were part of a pilot that will be fully evaluated in April next year and the trust continued to be committed to retaining in-patient beds in Malton Hospital.

"Last winter a similar scheme showed that we could run Malton Hospital with one in-patient ward whilst enhanced community teams were able to care for local people in their own homes. This was more appropriate to their needs," she added.

A PCT spokesman said: "We are committed to maintaining in-patient beds. Whether they are all on one ward or not is not a significant point. Our position has been consistent. It is about beds for us – not one ward over another."