MP Blames Senior Management Failures for Prolonged Closure of Eastfield Medical Centre

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume says a "failure of senior management" is the root cause behind the long-running closure of Eastfield Medical Centre, which has been shut since a flooding incident last summer.

The medical centre, which serves around 10,000 patients in Eastfield, is not expected to reopen until March 2026 following damage estimated at over £400,000.

The prolonged outage has severely disrupted primary care access for residents, particularly vulnerable and elderly patients in Eastfield and Cayton. Eastfield is noted as one of North Yorkshire’s most deprived areas.

Speaking about the situation, Ms Hume, who has escalated concerns to the Minister for Primary Care, stated that the breakdown lay with those overseeing the services:

"There's been a failure of senior management across the ICB, SSP who run the GP services, and Assura the landlords.

As I've dug deep into it, it's become obvious that the fantastic practice manager Tammy and her deputy Wendy have been really trying to sort everything out to do with the flood as well as providing a service.

This has been a failure of senior management across the board. Everybody else thought that everybody else was doing it and nobody was.

So, it's a sad and sorry situation and I do know that people are suffering and that's why I've given it so much of my time and I'll continue to do that."

The centre initially closed in June 2025 due to significant flooding which damaged electrical equipment, followed by a second incident in September. The closure has created an "unacceptable situation" where patients have been forced to travel into Scarborough or rely on telephone appointments, with many unable to travel to the alternative surgeries being offered.

Ms Hume, who described herself as "the honest broker trying to bring the various parties together to get a solution", has praised the dedication of the local staff who are working hard in difficult circumstances. She highlighted the critical efforts of Practice Manager Tammy and Deputy Wendy, who have been trying to provide services while managing the flood aftermath.

Community Steps Up Amid Crisis

While the MP continues to liaise with key stakeholders, including the building’s landlord Assura, and has pushed the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) for swift resolution, local businesses and charities have stepped in to alleviate the burden on patients.

In a welcome sign of community resilience, local business owner Jaime Millard has offered the use of four clinical grade rooms at Fashionable Fitness on Dunslow Road. This new facility will provide greater local access to care until the centre is able to reopen.

The fitness centre’s support complements offers from other community heroes. Eastfield Medical Centre has also been using space provided by St Cecilia’s, which includes a clinical room for services such as blood tests and long-term condition reviews. St Catherine’s Hospice, Lawrence House Medical Centre, and Brook Square Surgery are also supporting the practice by making space available for staff to see patients.

The MP confirmed that these community interventions are vital for the 10,000 patients affected by the primary care gap:

"Flooding happened in the summer and then again in September. It's been really catastrophic for the 10,000 patients in Eastfield.

Following an intervention by myself and Minister Kinnock, things are moving now. And I'm really pleased to say that it looks like there are temporary clinical rooms coming available at a fitness centre in Eastfield as well as support from St. Cecilia's and St. Catherine's. The community are really coming together.

But it has actually really put a spotlight on what happens when there's a critical failure in primary services.

There's no doubt that constituents have suffered as a result of that."

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, has acknowledged the situation, stating that he shares the "concern regarding the duration of the site’s closure". He has been in contact with Teresa Fenech, the acting chief executive of NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, to seek assurances that everything possible is being done to resolve the situation quickly.

Ms Hume has promised to continue her efforts, working hard both in the local area and in Westminster to ensure that Eastfield Medical Centre reopens and is functioning properly again. The focus remains on both a short-term relief solution and a longer-term strategy for the area.