THE takeover of Scarborough Hospital by York will be the subject of a number of public consultations in the new year, throughout Ryedale and East Yorkshire.
Mike Proctor, chief executive of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, will face the public to put the case forward for the dissolution of the organisation, as power is handed to York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
He said: “Work is progressing to plan towards integration and the case to join the two organisations is currently being considered by the Co-operation and Competition Panel (CCP), with a final decision expected in April.
“These meetings will give us the opportunity to update the public further on the integration work, including our CCP submission which outlines the significant benefits that this integration will bring to the local population.”
The meetings, taking place in Malton, Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington, will be held in conjunction with the Local Involvement Networks (LINks).
Leo McGrory, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby branch of North Yorkshire LINks, said: “We are pleased to be hosting this meeting in partnership with Scarborough and York Trusts and would encourage members of the public to attend so that they can find out more about the integration of their local hospital.”
Troubled Scarborough Hospital had been recognised as under-performing and the trust will be taken over by neighbouring York in an attempt to improve standards. Scarborough is hoping the takeover will help it to achieve foundation trust status, enabling it to have more of a say in its own day-to-day running.
In October a spokesman for Scarborough said: “To become a foundation trust, hospitals are required to meet certain clinical and financial standards, which make them fit for a long-term future.
“Without joining up with another trust, we recognised that we would not be able to achieve this and in October 2010 approached York to consider a possible partnership.”
The meetings will take place on the following dates:
Wednesday, January 18
North Yorkshire LINks meeting
Scarborough Library, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Monday, January 23 East Riding LINks meeting
Bridlington Spa, 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Tuesday, January 24
North Yorkshire LINks meeting
Whitby Coliseum, 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Monday, January 30
Ryedale LINks meeting
Malton Rugby Club, 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
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