TCI commentary:
For too long our NHS service managers across the country have been juggling too few staff on too many rotas. They expertly stretch their resources to cover gaps, then stretch them again while commissioning managers jostle with local politicians and community activists over the future of local services. Inevitably something snaps and ‘temporary’ closures are announced. We’ve seen it in dozens of towns and cities. We’ve seen it with all types of services, but a temporary closure is never felt more keenly in our communities than when it affects our urgent and emergency care services. We’ve seen it in Grantham. We’ve seen it in Weston-super-Mare. And now we’re seeing it in North Yorkshire – the A&E at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. People who live in the communities near the Friarage have seen a tide of services slowly ebb from their hospital in recent years. Long overdue is an open discussion about the future role of these hospitals in a modern health system. Here, even if reluctantly, the local Councillor seems to open the door to that discussion by noting that eventual permanent closure of the hospital’s A&E seems “inevitable”.
Article:
An A&E department serving 120,000 people will “temporarily” close because of patient safety and staff shortages, the NHS has said.
Critical care at Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital will be suspended from 27 March.
The leader of Hambleton District Council said the eventual permanent closure of the hospital’s A&E unit felt “inevitable”.
But the hospital said the vast majority of services will be unchanged. In 2014, Friarage Hospital stopped providing overnight children’s care and only women deemed low risk could give birth at the hospital.
Dr Adrian Clements, of Friarage Hospital and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the hospital tried and failed to recruit for “gaps in the workforce” for the last two years.
He said: “We need to make urgent temporary changes to our services to ensure we continue to provide safe clinical services and to mitigate the increasing risk of an emergency evacuation of the site on patient safety grounds.”
The NHS Trust said the critical care department at the rural hospital needs four consultants to be safe, but is currently staffed by one 67-year-old.
Two consultants, rather than eight, cover critical care out of hours.
An emergency meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee heard:
- Friarage’s A&E service will temporarily become a “24/7 urgent treatment centre” from 27 March
- All 999 and GP emergency patients will be assessed before arrival
- Some may be sent to Darlington Memorial or James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, both around 30 minutes drive from the Friarage
- Major trauma and serious illnesses (stroke, spinal, head injuries etc) will continue to be treated at James Cook University Hospital, and only patients with minor illnesses and injuries (slips, trips and minor wounds etc) will be treated at the Friarage
- The Friarage will be able to start treating children with minor illnesses (fever, rashes, asthma) again
The Trust said once the changes are in place, a public consultation will begin on the hospital’s long-term future.
Mark Robson, of Hambleton Council, said the NHS assured him it was “not the thin end of the wedge”, but said permanent closure feels an inevitable “fait accompli”.
The Institute cannot confirm the accuracy of this story or confirm that it presents a balanced view. If you feel this is inaccurate, we would welcome your perspective and evidence that this is the case.
