After the Echo exclusively revealed plans to close the Community Unit at Bridlington Hospital, the moves have provoked reaction from the Unite Union and Bridington’s MP Charlie Dewhirst
A statement from the Unite union has said:
Moving services from Bridlington to Scarborough ‘worst possible outcome’ for patients and staff
Plans to close Bridlington Community Unit, which provides elderly care, would result in the ‘worst possible outcome for patients and staff’, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has written to more than 50 impacted staff announcing consultations on the proposed closure.
The cost cutting measures would result in elderly patients being transferred to Scarborough, with nurses and healthcare assistants facing redundancy or transfer to York or Scarborough.
As well as leaving Bridlington without vital health services, the closure would rack up huge costs as patients would need to be transferred back and forth from Scarborough by taxi.
Shutting down the ward would also cause huge pressure on Scarborough Hospital, which is already facing crippling bed shortages.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These disastrous plans would result in the worst possible outcome for patients and staff. The short-term savings would not outweigh the long terms costs and are further evidence of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals treating Bridlington’s health services as a poor relation. Unite stands firm in demanding the trust rows back.”
Bridlington Hospital has suffered years of cuts to services – despite being one of the region’s most modern hospitals at just 30 years old.
Many of the hospital’s wards are standing empty, resulting in patients being forced to making 50-mile round trips to Scarborough or 80-mile rounds trips to York.
The current proposals would make the situation even worse, leaving Bridlington’s elderly patients stranded with their relatives having to travel miles to visit them. They would also leave transferred workers facing overly long commutes before and after their shifts, with the risk of exhaustion putting them and their patients at risk.
Unite regional officer Chris Daly said: “These plans are deeply unpopular with workers, patients and the people of Bridlington and are totally unacceptable. Unite will be providing maximum support to our members in fighting to save these vital health services.”
Charlie Dewhirst, Bridlington’s MP, has stated:
“I am deeply concerned to learn of the proposed closure of the Bridlington Care Unit from June 2026 and was not made aware of any decision or consultation regarding the matter.
I sought immediate clarification on the reasons for the closure and have received the following from the Chief Executive of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
The Bridlington Care Unit was opened in 2021 during the Covid pandemic as a temporary means of creating capacity primarily for patients leaving Scarborough Hospital who were clinically ready for discharge but didn’t have a care package.
We want to ensure that all patients benefit from the shortest possible stay on a ward, getting home as soon as they are fit to leave hospital with the support they need.
From June 2026, patients who would have been stepped down into the ward for a short stay will be supported to go to their intended care location (home or care home) sooner rather than having an extended stay in hospital. Shorter lengths of stay reduce the risk of infection or loss of mobility, for older people in particular.
“Similar temporary arrangements in place in York Hospital were stood down in 2024.
We want to reassure people in Bridlington that we continue to work closely with East Riding of Yorkshire Council who have various strategies in place to improve hospital discharge processes and support residents after leaving the hospital. In addition, there are a range of health service developments that will continue to support people who would normally be in hospital by closely monitoring them at home these include frailty services, community nursing, and virtual wards.
Discussions have begun with colleagues currently working on the unit, and their views are being sought. All colleagues will be offered alternative units and departments within the trust for them to move to.
Bridlington Hospital is an excellent facility and we have been actively working to increase the services that are available there, particularly in planned surgery. Last year Bridlington Hospital successfully achieved accreditation as an elective surgical hub, demonstrating a commitment to delivering high standards of operational care.
Next month Bridlington Hospital is joining the national Hub Optimisation Week, with both theatres running extended lists from Monday through to Saturday, to further test and demonstrate the Hospital’s potential to increase the number of operations delivered on the site.
Our intention is to continue to develop Bridlington to be a thriving hub for the community, working in partnership with our wider health and care partner organisations.
This is very disappointing news as the recent direction of travel had been positive and there appeared to be a renewed recognition by the NHS Trust that Bridlington Hospital is an excellent but underused facility. I have been actively working with the separate health providers and the Bridlington Health Forum to encourage and expand the services available there. As residents will be aware, Bridlington Hospital has also successfully achieved accreditation as an elective surgical hub.
I am therefore seeking an urgent meeting with the ICB and the CEO of the Trust to discuss how the ward can continue to be used for the benefit of local patients.”
