WHAT is happening to our hospital, the Friarage in Northallerton (Echo, July 14)?
The children’s services are running down, the baby unit is having problems and the accident and emergency services are being restricted. It looks to me, as an outsider, that there is a concerted effort on behalf of the hospital authorities to transfer most of the services to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
The restriction of children’s services is due to “unprecedented staffing pressures” (Echo, July 7) but surely there must be other staff capable. Why don’t they have access to the consultants at James Cook?
As for the ante-natal and baby unit, it would be tragic if mums in labour had to go to the hospital in Middlesbrough to have their babies. It is quite far enough to the Friarage in some cases.
It cannot be that they do not have the money as most of these units are new buildings and it is reported that at least one of the directors of the South Tees trust is to receive a 114 per cent pay rise for a three-day week.
Just what is going on? I am just a patient who worked in the Friarage years ago, and another anxious Northallerton person concerned about our town.
Name and address supplied, Northallerton
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