Protest march over hospital cuts

Bridlington's maternity unit will close next year

Thousands of people have staged a protest against proposals to cut services at an East Yorkshire hospital.

Campaigners joined the rally opposing plans to close the cardiac monitoring unit and two acute medical wards at Bridlington Hospital.

An independent panel of NHS experts has carried out a review of the plans and will advise Health Secretary Alan Johnson on a final decision.

The trust has said the changes were necessary to improve patient care.

As part of the proposals by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, the cardiac monitoring unit would be moved 22 miles away to Scarborough Hospital.

'Absolutely disgusted'

Protester Mick Pilling said: "We had a turn out of 6,500 to 7,000. It was the biggest march ever held in the area.

"It most certainly will have an effect. The people of the town are absolutely disgusted by the whole situation."

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "It is the services that the trust believes need to be located in full district general hospital.

"The trust's proposals for the future of services at Bridlington Hospital have been considered by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which has passed its recommendations to the Health Secretary.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment whilst we are awaiting his decision."

Earlier this week, it was decided maternity services dealing with births at Bridlington would be relocated to a new facility at Scarborough, following a separate review by the IRP.

But the trust spokeswoman stressed Bridlington maternity unit would still offer pre and postnatal services.

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