RYEDALE Ward at Malton Hospital is to reopen – six months after it was controversially closed.

The news has been welcomed by all those who campaigned to save the ward, including the Gazette & Herald.

Ryedale Ward was closed before Christmas as part of a trial to treat patients at home rather than in hospital.

The pilot was part of NHS North Yorkshire and York’s wider plan to reduce the number of unnecessary hospital admissions, enable quicker discharge and establish better follow-up care.

Following an evaluation by the National Clinical Advisory Team a report was submitted to the board of NHS North Yorkshire and York recommending that Ryedale Ward, along with Abbey Ward at Whitby Hospital was reopened.

The report stated that there was overall support for elements of the pilot, including the provision of an integrated community team and 24/7 nursing.

However, it added that there was a lack of a strategic and shared vision for the future in both Malton and Whitby community hospitals and supporting community services among GPs and staff.

The report recommended that there was a phased re-opening of the beds on Ryedale Ward over the next three months, pending staff recruitment, alongside the re-shaping of the enhanced community team to support the move.

It added that within three months an agreed strategy should be developed with local partners, including York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, for use of all beds within Malton Hospital.

Sue Metcalfe, deputy chief executive at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “We are following the recommendation from the NCAT to not implement the enhance community team model at this time. This is due to a lack of support from local stakeholders, in particular local GPs.

“I’d like to thank all the staff who made the pilot possible, particularly the nursing and therapy staff who were highly commended for their professionalism and willingness to try new ways of working.

“We hope this is something that the emerging GP commissioning consortia will consider in the future, particularly as the evaluation said this was a good clinical model and highlighted very positive feedback from patients.

“We will now be working with York and Scarborough hospital trusts to re-open the in-patient beds in both Whitby and Malton hospitals on a phased basis.”

Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, said she was delighted that Ryedale Ward was re-opening.

“This is great news for all those living in Malton and Ryedale who hold Malton Hospital dear,” she said.

“The recent report by Dr Martin Hawkings and Dr Chris Clough (NCAT) of the Malton and Whitby pilots concluded that the temporary closure of the wards, ‘encouraged a culture of mistrust; blame, lack of co-operation and the essence of what is being developed for patients has been lost.

“I believe the future of Malton Hospital will be more secure with the reopening of Ryedale Ward. We are looking at shared use of beds on the ward between local GPs and other patients referred from the new York and Scarborough Hospital Trust.”

Dr Michael Lynch, senior partner at Derwent Practice, who headed a 1,750 name petition opposing the closure of Ryedale Ward, said he was delighted with the news.

He said: “Some parts of the scheme, including the overnight cover, have been beneficial but the problem was that we lost the flexibility to bring patients back from York and Scarborough hospitals.

“We are now hoping the facility will be used by the new trust which will provide additional funds and get the place fully up and running again.

“We are delighted that the ward is going to reopen.”

Jezz Kipling, chairman of Malton Hospital’s League of Friends which donated £205,000 towards the refurbishment of Ryedale Ward, said he welcomed the decision.

He said: “We are very pleased with the good news that Ryedale Ward is re-opening and would like to thank everyone for their continued support for the League of Friends.

“We will continue our loyal support to Malton Hospital in providing equipment to help the service it provides to patients.”