by John Prince
Moves to make better use of health provisions in the region have taken a leap forward as NHS executives, healthcare providers and councillors met a local MP to discuss the future of Hornsea Cottage Hospital.
Bridlington and the Wolds MP Charlie Dewhirst visited the site in Eastgate to take a tour, and for a round-the-table meeting aimed at unlocking fuller use of the town’s well-maintained but underused hospital.
It is to attract medical professionals and use what facilities are already available, so patients don’t have to travel to other centres such as Beverley or Bridlington for treatment.
The meeting between the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, East Riding and Hornsea councillors, City Healthcare Partnership and the Integrated Care Board focused on practical ways to expand basic outpatient provision locally.
Mr Dewhirst said the hospital “is a fantastic facility” yet struggles for regular use because “we don’t get as many health consultants and charities in here to use the excellent space that we’ve already got”.
The goal is to ensure local people can get health services closer to home.
He added: “The services NHS Humber provide across the local area are not just here in Hornsea, but obviously wider across East Riding.
“The Cottage Hospital has had a challenging recent history. It lost its minor injuries facility a few years back, but it’s an amazing space. Just look around. It’s really well-maintained, and it could do so much more in delivering basic outpatient services.”
While recognising that major operations and complex treatments will have to be referred to larger hospitals such as Hull Royal Infirmary or Castle Hill, Mr Dewhirst stressed the value of localised care for residents in Hornsea and surrounding villages.
Discussions with NHS Humber have covered service provision across the East Riding, and the broader issue of other sites in Bridlington and Driffield.
“When you walk around them, you realise that they’re not used to the full potential,” he said. “It’s important we’ve got all the relevant people around the table today, to try and work out a plan so we can draw more people in.”
A coordinated plan is being looked at to attract providers and charities to book rooms at Hornsea, increase clinic sessions, and commission models that reflect local need.
No immediate resolution was expected from the meeting, but key actions and responsibilities are to be agreed and taken forward with the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which commissions local services.
Simon Cox from the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, said: “One of the challenges is that healthcare, and how it’s delivered, is different now to how it was probably 25 or 30 years ago.
“Going back quite a while, there will have been things like inpatient beds here, and a range of other services that have moved for various reasons. That is partly due to the change in how healthcare’s delivered.
“It’s not utilised to its maximum potential, as there are rooms which are not fully used. The challenge for the NHS and for partners is how we look to maximise that.
“The Cottage Hospital is next door to the GP surgery, so there is more work we can do between both services.
“The intention today is to try and generate options.”
Alison Flack, director of Strategy at Humber NHS Teaching Foundation Trust, said: “It’s a great opportunity for colleagues to come and see the great facility that we’ve got at Hornsea.
“Clearly there is much more that we could potentially do at the right time for people that live here.
“The new NHS England neighbourhood care framework has just been released, so it gives us a chance to come together to have a look at some of the opportunities and potentials.
“There’s a range of outpatient clinics here. We have a physio, a fantastic x-ray facility, and ultrasound. A number of our neighbourhood teams are based here such as district nurses, community mental health teams, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists.
“But we’ve got to be realistic. We have got a good facility but we also need the revenue to be able to deliver more services.
“These are very early discussions based on this new guidance and direction of travel from the NHS.”
Cllr Barbara Jefferson from East Riding Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board also sits on Hornsea Town Council. She said: “My interest is the health and welfare of Hornsea residents.
“I was devastated when we lost beds here. We lost 28 and we went down to 12. Then they took them away altogether.
“We need more services at the hospital, and I have been in touch with the health minister Karin Smyth.
“I approached her last November regarding Hornsea Cottage Hospital becoming a neighbourhood health centre for the coast, going all the way down to Withernsea and Spurn, having discussed the possibility at a previous ICB meeting.
“I contacted our local MP Charlie Dewhirst who is here today.”
Politics aside, the aim is for partners to work together for the benefit of patients, and make sure that they can come day after day for care.
Cllr Jefferson added: “The GP surgery here is wonderful, but people are still having to go out of the town for treatment.
“It’s the inconvenience of having to travel because, quite clearly, not everyone has a neighbour or relative who is prepared to take you, because you don’t know how long you’re going for.
“We want five days a week here, nine until five. If you need a minor injury, it has to be Beverley or Bridlington, which is a trek no matter what you say.
“If we could get more medical professionals here to look after the residents of Hornsea, it would be something that would make my life worthwhile.”
As Hornsea looks to strengthen care on its doorstep, the question now is whether joined-up commissioning and community partnerships can turn good intentions into regular, reliable local clinics, bringing the right care closer to the people who need it.