Campaigners brand hospital proposals "unacceptable" (From The Northern Echo)

Campaigners brand hospital proposals "unacceptable"

8:00am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in York & Harrogate News By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS: The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton

PROPOSALS that could lead to the downgrading of children’s and maternity services at one of the region’s hospitals were last night branded “entirely unacceptable”.

Opponents vowed to fight the potential changes at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, after the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) published a report examining options for the long-term future of services at the 200-bed facility. The team, which spent a day at the hospital last month, concluded that the hospital’s inpatient paediatric service is not sustainable and should be converted to an outpatients- only service.

Such a move – which would have to be the subject of a public consultation – would inevitably lead to the downgrading of the hospital’s consultant- led maternity unit.

Without consultant paediatricians on duty at weekends and evenings, only straightforward deliveries could be handled by a new midwife-led maternity unit, leading to a likely fall in deliveries from about 1,200 a year to about 500.

Mothers who are higher risk or who prefer a consultant- led maternity unit would have to go to either The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Harrogate District Hospital or York Hospital.

The NCAT report also questioned the future of Darlington Memorial Hospital. It said: “There is a big unknown about what is happening in Darlington. If Darlington Hospital services transfer to Durham, then there will be an increasing requirement for James Cook to respond to patients coming from that geographical area.”

However, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said that women’s and children’s services are an important part of its service at Darlington.

Richmondshire District Council leader John Blackie claimed that the proposed downgrade at the Friarage was because of financial concerns.

He said: “I think it’s a black day for the 150,000 people across 75 miles of rural North Yorkshire, who depend entirely on its services. It seems that one day’s visit has torpedoed the work of dedicated staff.”

Councillor Blackie said the preferred option of the NCAT was “completely outrageous and entirely unacceptable”

and warned that the fight to overturn the proposals would be taken on to the streets.

Richmond MP William Hague, who will meet the trust’s chief executive on Friday to discuss the report, said it is vital that all options for the retention of services at the Friarage are discussed.

“Proposals to reduce or change paediatric and obstetric services should be subject to exhaustive discussion and examination,” he said.

Mr Hague said he wanted “all relevant information, including alternative points of view,” to be published, so the debate can be fully informed.

The NCAT report was put together at the request of the GP-led commissioning group that will take over NHS purse strings in the Northallerton area next April.

Dr Vicky Pleydell, shadow accountable officer for the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group, said while the group was committed to the future of the Friarage, it faces a number of challenges.

“Children’s and maternity services are particular issues at the Friarage that we need to address now,” she said. “I must stress that this is not about saving money, but more about using the available money to invest in good quality and safe services that can stand up for years to come.”

Dr Pleydell said any proposals for significant changes to services will be subject to public consultation, which will start in the spring.

A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said: “Women’s and children’s services are an important part of our service at Darlington, which has traditionally served parts of North Yorkshire.

“If changes are required at the Friarage, we would be keen to work with commissioners to explore opportunities for North Yorkshire patients to have the choice of coming to Darlington, as an alternative to Middlesbrough.”