Union outrage at recommendation to close Cardiac Monitoring Unit

Tuesday 18th December 2007

Unite the union has expressed outrage at the recommendation by Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust Chief Executive, Iain McInnes’ to close Bridlington Hospital’s Cardiac Monitoring Unit (CMU).

Mr McInnes has recommended to the Trust Board that the CMU be moved to Scarborough and the hospital become an intermediate care hospital. However no firm decision will be made until possibly March 2008. 

This indecision will create further anxiety for staff who do not know what the future holds.

Unite believes that the closure will put patients requiring emergency care at risk, endangering lives. Patients will have to be transported to further away hospitals in Scarborough or Hull.

Unite National Officer, Kevin Coyne says:

“Unite has consistently said that the closure will put patients lives at risk as they will have to travel further, 22 miles to Scarborough hospital, for emergency treatment.”

Unite Regional Officer, Terry Cunliffe, added:

“We think the recommendation to remove the Cardiac Monitoring Unit from Bridlington Hospital is a gross mistake and it does not make economic sense.

“It does not make sense for the people of Bridlington, particularly those who suffer chest pains, as we believe the time delay in moving patients to Scarborough will lead to tragedy.”

Unite believes that the decision was motivated by the deficit faced by the Trust rather than clinical need.

Unite intend to carry on the campaign to keep the CMU at Bridlington open.