RESIDENTS have demanded more action on doctored waiting lists at Scarborough Hospital.

The calls came at yesterday's CHC meeting as members discussed the problems rocking Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

Three Trust directors - chief nurse Liz Parker, information director Jim Brace and planning director Martin Hay - were suspended after the district auditor uncovered "deliberate misreporting" to make waiting lists appear shorter.

Ryedale resident David Hughes stood up to say: "As a watchdog you ought to make some sort of statement. I feel that perhaps you have a role to say something - you are seen by the public as a watchdog and if you don't comment on it you could be seen as endorsing it."

Chief officer Malcolm Palmer agreed that they would issue a formal response in the next few days.

"I am always anxious when I have to make a statement," he admitted. "I am just conscious of making the point of not trying the three individuals concerned through the media."

Jill Knight said she sympathised with the trust.

"The trust as a whole has been under tremendous pressure to reach these targets on which its future funding depends," she said.

But board member Jane Maddison reminded those present about the scale of the issues. "In a sense they are more than allegations," she said.

Updated: 12:12 Tuesday, January 14, 2003