Potential plans to close Goole Hospital spark outrage
Staff at the Hospital were told about plans for changes to the Hospital on Friday
Last updated 9th Dec 2024
Potential plans to close Goole Hospital, which would put over 200 jobs at risk and move appointments out of town, have sparked local outrage.
Staff were told in a meeting on Friday that the wards and theatres 'weren't fit for purpose' and that the hospital is 'no longer cost-effective.'
A staff member told Hits Radio East Yorkshire that workers were informed about plans for a complete closure, a partial closure or a new purpose built unit and that there 'weren't enough patients using the theatres' to upgrade them.
If the hospital were to close, around 291 jobs would be at risk and services would move out of the town.
Liam, Staff Nurse at Goole Hospital, said:
"I was devastated to hear the news, especially just before Christmas. It's not what we want to hear. Both me and my wife work at Goole. We rely on our income here. We've got two small children. It's really not needed right before Christmas, this news. And I feel sorry for the patients, most of all."
"I drive, so that's absolutely fine. But I know a lot of staff that do not drive that live local, want to work local. It's the cost of obviously fuel. It's our time as well. And we would rather not personally."
People gathered in the town this morning (Monday 9th) to sign a petition, one said:
"For the people in Goole, this is going to be a real challenge. How are people going to get to the other hospitals?
Another said:
"It's just absolutely shocking. We're not going to take this without a fight."
Goole's MP David Davis has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care opposing the plans, David said:
"It is frankly astonishing that the Partnership should start to consider any plans without first consulting with the local Member of Parliament and the Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
"At a time when the NHS is under strain and under enormous pressure to reduce backlogs, any proposal to reduce or scrap services is, frankly, both extraordinary and irrational.
"Goole and District Hospital is a comparatively modern facility that has a key role to play in helping the NHS address those backlogs and reduce strain. Far from any proposal to reduce services, we should be looking at expanding services at Goole, which is currently underutilised, to help meet those pressures.
"I will be putting these points, in no uncertain terms, to the NHS Humber Health Partnership when I meet with them.
"I have also written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on behalf of my constituents to voice my absolute opposition to any proposal to cut services at Goole and District Hospital.”
A petition has now got nearly six thousand signatures.
A spokesperson from NLaG said:
“There is a lot of disinformation circulating about Goole and District Hospital, which is causing unnecessary anxiety for the local population and our staff.
"We have started work to look at the future potential options and opportunities for the hospital. No decisions have been taken on the future of the hospital.
"There is a lot of work we have do with our staff, patients and partners to understand what we might do and we will be meeting with them to discuss potential options and their ideas in the coming months.”