A trade union has condemned the controversial proposals to move some crucial services out of Scunthorpe General Hospital to Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, stating that the plans require “proper consultation”.
Unison is calling on members of the public to engage with the ongoing consultation to make their feelings known on the proposals, which include services such as the trauma unit, overnight emergency surgery, specialist teams for heart, lung and stomach conditions and even overnight care for children and young people who need to stay in hospital for more than 24 hours.
The 14-week public consultation was launched at the end of September by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) into whether some services can be provided solely from 30 miles away in Grimsby. It will run until January 5, 2024.
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At a meeting last week, members of North Lincolnshire Council voted unanimously to oppose the proposed removal of services, and threatened a judicial review if it goes ahead anyway.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser, Ashley Harper, said the changes would affect every single person in Scunthorpe.
“This would affect everyone in Scunthorpe, not just workers at the hospital who could be relocated 30 miles away,” he said.
(Image: ScunthorpeLive/Donna Clifford)
“It would mean vital services that are currently on the doorstep would be 45 minutes away – and nursing and clinical support roles will either be at risk of moving sites, or being redeployed.
“But it’s not just staff who’ll be impacted. Having a poorly child have to stay in hospital overnight is stressful enough for a parent, without having to factor in driving 30 miles to get there.
“It’s now vital the public have their say on these proposals by taking part in the consultation.”
An NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB spokesperson previously said they believed the changes will improve the quality of care in northern Lincolnshire, and not impact the majority of people who require hospital care.
(Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford)
They said: “We believe the changes we are putting forward will improve the quality of urgent and emergency care, trauma, and inpatient paediatric care for people in northern Lincolnshire and ensure patients have access to the most highly skilled professionals when needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“These proposed changes will not impact on the majority of people who require urgent and emergency care, general medical or care of the elderly, who would still be treated at their local hospital.
“Throughout the 14-week consultation period, we will be focused on ensuring everyone has an opportunity to have their say, and that we listen carefully to the consultation responses before any decision is taken.
“We encourage all interested parties to visit the Better Hospitals Humber website at www.betterhospitalshumber.nhs.uk to find full details of the proposal that has been put forward by the local NHS, understand the case for change that we are making and how to give us their views.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
