Fears for future of minor surgery services at Malton Hospital (From Gazette & Herald)

Fears for future of minor surgery services at Malton Hospital

11:45am Wednesday 16th December 2009

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THE future of minor operations being carried out at Malton Hospital is in doubt – resulting in pleas for the service to be retained by town mayor Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith.

The hospital, it has been disclosed, needs to undergo some refurbishment, along with Whitby Hospital, by the NHS North Yorkshire and York.

But a study is being carried out on how cost-effective it is to carry out minor surgery and endoscopy routines, says the NHS trust.

A spokesman said: “We are looking at the options, but the primary care trusts and GPs are keen to keep the facilities in the town.”

Sue Metcalfe, deputy chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “We are keen to maintain locally-based endoscopy and minor surgery services in Malton and Whitby.

“However, it has become clear that some work needs to be undertaken to the hospital’s theatres to make sure they can continue to operate to the highest standards.

“We need to understand how much any refurbishment work will cost us and whether it will be value for money for taxpayers in the long term.

“Once all options have been fully assessed, we will be able to make a decision.”

The doubts over the future of the services prompted a broadside this week from Coun Fitzgerald-Smith.

He said: “I am absolutely appalled that these sort of considerations are under review.

“Malton people and those throughout Ryedale are very proud of the hsopital and its dedicated and committed staff.

“We have lost our A&E and maternity units.

“If the trend continues, we shall be left with a hospital which will be little more than a rest and receuperation unit.”

Coun Fitzgerald-Smith said the hospital’s reputation for its standard of care was renowned.

He said: “It is held in such high regard and that is reflected by the vast amount of money which has been raised over the years to buy specialist equipment and improve facilities at the hospital by The Hospital League of Friends.

“We must not lose this link with our community – it is tragic that it can even be considered.”

Malton valued the hospital, he said, because it served such a vast rural area and people would have to travel to Scarborough or York hospitals if minor surgery was discontinued.

Patients in other parts of the Scarborough and Whitby area are frequently given the option to have minor operations and other procedures carried out at the Whitby or Malton hospitals, where they can often be done in a shorter time, saving inconvenience and long waits for treatment at York or Scarborough hospitals, said Coun Fitzgerald-Smith.

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