MP to chair meeting over Malton Hospital ward closure (From York Press)

MP Anne McIntosh to chair meeting over Malton Hospital ward closure

9:06am Thursday 11th November 2010 in News

A NORTH Yorkshire MP concerned over the closure of a hospital ward recently given a £1 million facelift is to host a meeting between staff and the health bosses involved.

Anne McIntosh, the Thirsk and Malton MP, is concerned over the closure of the Ryedale ward at Malton Hospital by North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust.

She is to chair a meeting between health bosses at the PCT, staff and health practitioners in Malton on Friday, November 19.

Miss McIntosh said: “I am delighted the PCT has finally agreed to sit down and discuss this ward closure with those who will be directly affected by their decision. The Government has made the commitment that all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, and are not to be driven from the top down.

“This has not happened in Malton and I feel that Ryedale Ward should not have closed without the agreement of both the health practitioners and local community.”

The PCT has claimed the measure is to free-up staff to allow a pilot study to treat patients in their own homes set to end in March to be assessed.

Janet Probert, the managing director of North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services, said: “This pilot is part of our wider plan to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, enable quicker discharge from hospital and establish better follow up care for people who do require a hospital admission. There continues to be an essential role for our community hospitals, including Malton, especially when people need a certain level of in-patient care close to their homes.”