I WRITE in response to the editorial comment in the York Press (“Hospital is so badly needed”, The Press, October 17).

There are many rumours circulating and much of this is as a result of scaremongering and worst-case scenario conclusions that have been widely shared through social media.

I would like to set the record straight in response to this: no-one is considering closing Scarborough Hospital.

The people of Scarborough and the surrounding areas need access to an emergency department, and the purpose of this review is to look at how best we can continue to provide that, along with the services that you need to have in place to support it.

There are no proposals, we are at the beginning of this process and it is likely to take many months. If any major changes were to be proposed as a result, these would require a full public consultation.

The impact of any potential changes on other hospitals, including York, would of course be carefully considered. It would make no sense at all if a solution for one of our hospitals caused additional pressures in another.

Michael Proctor,

Chief executive,

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust