Fresh protest as celebs back hospital campaign

Hundreds of people protested near Goole hospital

Protesters have stepped up their campaign to safeguard the future of a hospital, after winning celebrity backing.

Hundreds of people staged a demonstration outside Goole and District Hospital earlier, amid speculation that parts of the site could close.

Former boxer Barry McGuigan, Genesis musician Mike Rutherford and comedian Jasper Carrott have all recorded messages of support.

The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said it was assessing ideas and planned to "agree the next steps" with the Integrated Care Board by March.

Concerns about the hospital's future were raised in December after staff at the hospital claimed several wards had been earmarked for closure.

Sir David Davis, the Goole and Pocklington MP, met officials from the trust earlier as campaigners staged a protest in Woodland Avenue.

He said there had been "no resolution" at the meeting and the trust was "not even near a decision".

Former boxing world champion Barry McGuigan has sent a video message in support of hospital campaigners

The hospital was the "best performing hospital in the trust" and "massively underutilised", Sir David added.

"All of these are very strong reasons not to shrink the hospital, but to enlarge it."

Jean Thompson, a retired nurse, is being treated for respiratory problems and left her hospital bed to join the protest.

She said it was "very important to keep the community together" and ensure families were able to visit relatives in hospital.

Another women who attended the protest described the hospital as "a vital facility" in a community with "an elderly population".

Jean Thompson, who left her hospital bed to join the protest

A spokesperson for the trust said: "The next steps are likely to include further engagement with staff, patients, the local community and partners and further options analysis over a number of months.

"In the meantime services at Goole will remain as they are until any final decisions are made."

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