Whitby Hospital out-of-hours GP service changes criticised

Whitby Hospital's out-of-hours GP service is now being provided by phone from Scarborough Hospital

Changes to Whitby Hospital's out-of-hours GP service have been criticised.

The trust which runs the hospital confirmed the service was now being provided by telephone from Scarborough Hospital.

Roberto Weeden-Sanz, Conservative parliamentary candidate for the area, said he was "appalled at the lack of communication" over the changes.

Responding, the trust said measures would be put in place to ensure GP coverage was still available.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Whitby Hospital's out-of-hours GP service for urgent assessment was taken over by Nimbuscare earlier this week and care has had to be accessed via NHS 111.

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust said a GP would be based at Scarborough Hospital and "should the need arise" they would travel to Whitby, "ensuring attendance is timely".

"This ensures any patients unwell enough to require an out-of-hours GP appointment are treated as close as possible to an emergency department should their condition require escalation," a trust spokesperson said.

'Short notice'

The operating hours for the service were 18:30 to 08:00 Monday to Friday, and 20:00 until 08:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays, they said.

An out-of-hours GP would also be on-site at Whitby Hospital on Saturdays and Sundays from 13:00 to 18:00 "for patients who have been given a face-to-face appointment", the spokesperson added.

But Mr Weeden-Sanz, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Scarborough and Whitby, criticised "the short notice the community has been given" about the changes.

"I have contacted the trust several times in the last week to get more information and met a stonewall," he added.

Meanwhile, Alison Hume, Labour's parliamentary candidate for the constituency, said concerns had also been raised about the possible loss of jobs as a result of the change of service provider.

"If reports are true, drivers based at Whitby Hospital who previously drove doctors to see patients at home have lost their jobs, and I understand around five jobs have gone."

She also said: "These cuts have been carried out without any consultation.

The trust said it could not comment on the drivers' employment as they were "not employed by the trust".

Nimbuscare has been contacted for a comment.