Scunthorpe MP seeks urgent NHS meeting over hospital service changes
Sir Nic Dakin steps up pressure after government confirms it will not intervene in plans affecting Scunthorpe General Hospital
Scunthorpe’s MP Sir Nic Dakin (Labour) is seeking an urgent meeting with a senior NHS figure after the Government confirmed it is not intervening over planned changes to the town’s hospital services.
Through the Humber Acute Services review, plans have been approved to consolidate some services at regional hospitals.
For Scunthorpe General Hospital, this will see its trauma unit close and merged into Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.
Adult patients with heart, lung or stomach problems who may need a more than 72 hours hospital stay will be seen at Grimsby only, and emergency surgeries will be split between hospitals, dependent on the surgery involved.
North Lincolnshire Council asked the Government to intervene, but Health Minister Karin Smyth has confirmed it will not.
An NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) spokesperson said it is pleased the Health Minister recognised the changes do not threaten the hospital’s viability.
“I am seeking an urgent meeting with the NHS England Regional Director,” Sir Nic has stated.
He will also seek to bring together all key stakeholders “to ensure that Scunthorpe General’s future is secure”, and local people “have the best access to the care they need”.
Because of “significant churn” in local NHS leadership, he said “it’s vital that we come together and ensure that our care provision is the best it possibly can be.”
There is no timeline yet on when the changes will happen. This is because it is at the enabling stage currently.
The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) agreed to revised changes in July 2024 after a 14-week public consultation. “They were designed to ensure patients in northern Lincolnshire receive safe, sustainable, and consultant-led care seven days a week,” said an ICB spokesperson.
“These changes are not about reducing investment or cutting costs but about improving clinical outcomes and addressing longstanding workforce challenges."