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Whitby people deserve better from hospital chiefs
ANOTHER week and more anonymous calls from Whitby Gazette readers worried about Whitby Hospital.
This time we hear there were 'unsafe staffing levels' (not surprising as there is a recruitment freeze and with no overtime allowed).
On Monday evening all admissions to the hospital were stopped and an 87-year-old Whitby woman who had broken her pelvis was told she could not be admitted.
So to remedy the problem we're told there were orders to close Abbey Ward at 5pm on Tuesday and to shift patients up to War Memorial ward.
Staff weren't told why – they were just told to do it.
There was uproar among doctors and nurses and only after a GP stepped in, the move was halted.
Of course, we have put all these tales of woe – given to us by reliable sources including doctors and nurses – to trust chiefs and their statements tell an altogether different story saying there is nothing to worry about and that patient care is paramount, enhanced care etc etc etc.
But the Whitby Gazette has heard all this before, so have our readers and so have the long-suffering, first-class staff at Whitby Hospital.
The sad fact is, contrary to what the powers-that-be will tell us, Whitby Hospital is fighting for its future.
Everyone knows we are in a recession and everyone knows budgets need to be cut – all the more strange then that we were issued with a press release on Wednesday from NHS North Yorkshire and York to say a team of seven nurses will be stationed on Scarborough's seafront during the summer.
But everyone also knows – in Whitby and district at least – that cuts will inevitably lead to a tragedy. FACT.
It was less than a fortnight ago that Whitby MP Robert Goodwill said on our front page "he would die in a ditch" for the town's hospital.
He is fighting for our hospital and today we are urging readers to join that fight and write to Jayne Brown, chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York at: The Hamlet, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, HG2 8RE.
Tell her how important our hospital has been, is and will continue to be.
We're also sending a copy of today's paper to Prime Minister David Cameron and to health secretary Andrew Lansley.
We're urging them to come and meet us, see our hospital and talk to the people of the town and the people who work at the hospital.
You can email the health secretary at: lansleya@parliament.uk
You can also write to the Prime Minister at: 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA or log on to www.number10.gov.uk to send him an email.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 37 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
