What is going on with our local hospitals

Protester's blanket rejection of bed cuts

Alexandra Wood A town councillor took to bed – to highlight the plight of the East Riding's community hospitals.
Brent Roach was wheeled in an old hospital bed to the side entrance of the headquarters of East Riding Primary Care Trust yesterday in a demonstration that drew more than 200 protesters.They are angry at the PCT's plans to axe 14 NHS beds at Driffield's Alfred Bean Hospital – and those at three other community hospitals in the region – and replace them with 60 beds at hospitals in Bridlington, Goole and a third unspecified location, and 40 others at private care homes.Coun Roach said: "Today's turnout shows what a huge strength of feeling there is in the community against these cuts, which we don't believe make sense. We badly need to retain all these beds in community hospitals throughout the East Riding. They are vital for recuperative care of patients after they come out of the main hospitals and before they return home."We believe shifting beds into the private care sector is totally uneconomic, because the beds will have to be paid for even when there are no patients in them.
"On the other hand we've seen little evidence of the savings that were meant to be made when the two trusts merged last year to form the new PCT."Unfortunately in the NHS too much money is going on personnel and not enough on patient care."We would question why the PCT is still operating from two headquarters if they are under so much financial pressure."The PCT's interim chief executive Claire Wood, went out to meet protesters who handed her a letter.She said: "We are encouraged by the interest that local communities are taking in their local health services and offer assurance that all views received will inform the final decisionon the proposed model of care." Another demonstration is planned for early next month.