GPs to decide on fate of closed wards

The Abbey Ward at Whitby Hospital and Ryedale Ward at Malton Community Hospital were closed by health chiefs last November and replaced with a trial project offering a 24-hour community service to people in their homes.

The pilot scheme, which was met with scepticism by North Yorkshire County Council’s Scrutiny of Health Committee and Scarborough and Whitby’s MP Robert Goodwill, is due to be considered by the board of NHS North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) when it meets next week.

Now it has emerged GPs will be asked to decide whether to fully re-open the Abbey Ward and 21-bed Ryedale Ward, which underwent a £1m refurbishment just months before it was closed, or to partially open both wards and keep a reduced 24-hour service.

Coun Jim Clark, chairman of the scrutiny of health committee, said: “I very much welcome the fact that more beds at these community hospitals will be re-opened and GPs will be consulted.

“I’m sure that people in these areas will be very pleased.”

Sue Metcalfe, deputy chief executive at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “The pilot will reach its conclusion at the end of March.

“However, it will not come to an abrupt end and any patients receiving treatment as part of the pilot will continue to receive the treatment that they need.

“At its next meeting, the PCT’s board will consider the implementation of a preferred bed configuration in Whitby and Ryedale as an interim measure based on the views of local GP commissioners, and also on the longer term strategic configuration of community and hospital services.”