Use hospital services or lose them, patients told (From Gazette & Herald)

Use hospital services or lose them, patients told

PEOPLE in Ryedale needing hospital treatment are being urged to use Scarborough General or key services could be lost.

The plea has come from the secretary of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale NHS Trust, Chris Coombs and surgeons at the hospital, one of the largest district hospitals in North Yorkshire.

Mr Coombs said the trust's finances could be hit hard as a result of a £10 million contract to carry out operations being given to the York-based private health care company, Capio Healthcare UK, by the Scarborough,Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust.

He said the surgeons fear the number of hip and knee replacements carried out for the PCT at Scarborough could slump under the new Payment by Results (PbR) system introduced by the Government.

Mr Coombs said the contract, which lasts five years, meant that the future level of services would be determined by the number of patients using the General for operations. Patients have the option under a new arrangement of choice, to use the Capio or Nuffield private hospitals in York, or other hospitals under the Government's policy of choice.

"If a lot of patients are taken away from Scarborough General our income will be reduced but we shall still have to retain the consultants," said Mr Coombs.

However, Michael Whitworth, chief executive of the Malton-based PCT, said: "The NHS is working towards delivering more choice for patients to enable them to access the care they need at the most convenient time, an an appropriate setting. This involves offering patients a choice of provider, including the private sector."

He added: "With the introduction of services delivered by the Clifton Park Treatment Centre in York, which is run as part of a nationally-agreed

contract between the NHS and Capio, patients waiting for certain operations can choose to be treated there if this fits with their individual circumstances.

"As part of the national agreement with Capio, patients in Scarborough, Whity and Ryedale PCT area will be able to make their choice in consultation with their GP."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the NHS Trust for the area is £6.9 million in debt. However, its financial prospects face a brighter future, said Mr Coombs, if it wins the Government's prestigious Foundation Trust status. "If we don't become a Foundation Trust then we will have to merge with another trust that has done so," he said.

"Although we are facing a deficit of £6.9 million, if we were a Foundation Trust now, we would already be balancing the books this year.

"Being a foundation trust means running health care on a much more business-like footing."

Latest figures show it is costing £9 million a year to run Malton and Whitby community hospitals. "In contrast, we only receive £4 million income. Put simply, we have been losing around £5 million a year because, according to the auditors, we haven't been paid enough overall to run the hospitals."

Major multi-million developments are underway at Scarborough General which will benefit Ryedale patients, said Mr Coombs. North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee meets at The Royal Hotel, Scarborough, tomorrow night to discuss the trust's financial position.

Updated: 14:40 Wednesday, April 05, 2006