Residents React To ‘Never Before Seen’ Pressure On Scarborough Hospital

Scarborough Hospital is facing unprecedented pressure due to hot weather and an influx of holiday visitors, prompting residents and staff to share their experiences and call for improvements to primary care to help ease the strain.

North Yorkshire residents have had their say on hot weather and holiday visitors placing Scarborough Hospital under pressure that has ‘never been seen before’.

It comes as health bosses said that the number of attendances at Scarborough Hospital this week “far outstripped anything that has ever been seen before” at this time of year.

Clare Smith, chief executive of the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“The numbers that were seen on Monday far outstripped anything that we’d ever seen before at Scarborough Hospital, which placed it under significant pressure.”

“Of course, it’s the time of year where we have a lot more visitors to Scarborough and to Bridlington and those types of areas,” she added at a meeting of the trust’s board of directors on Wednesday, July 29.

She added:

“There have been significant challenges across our sites over the last few weeks, with really, really high levels of attendance.”

It comes as the number of 12-hour trolley waits increased in both May and June across the trust’s emergency departments, after figures had fallen between February and April.

Commenting on Facebook, one resident said:

“Honestly, I feel for the doctors and nurses – they all look so stressed. I’ve been there over the past four days with a family member who has been unwell, and the staff are doing an amazing job with how they treat the patients.

“But there are so many people who go up to hospital, who could’ve gone to the GP if there was a chance to actually get an appointment.”

They added:

“GP surgeries need to be fixed up because the hospital is taking on the strain of multiple services failing people.”

Rachel said:

“I work in A&E, and all I can do is apologise to everyone who has had a negative experience; we are so overwhelmed, as you can see.

“We are all working tirelessly to do our clinical jobs that have to be prioritised. If we don’t get back to you it’s definitely not intentional; we are just so so busy.

“But the staff that are on, I promise you, are doing their very best to get to you.”

Commenting on social media, a Whitby resident said:

“We live in Whitby, but our minor unit shuts at 8pm, so then it’s a trip to Scarborough. Most of the time it’s a minimum of a four-hour wait, but I have often been there until the following morning.”

Mel said:

“I don’t know why there isn’t an urgent medical centre in town where people with problems they would usually take to their GP but cannot get appointments can go to.

“It would take so much pressure off the hospital emergency department.”

Last month, Scarborough’s new community diagnostics centre opened in Eastfield, giving people access to faster access to vital tests and scans.

The purpose-built facility provides a range of non-acute diagnostic services closer to home, helping to reduce waiting times, support earlier diagnosis and improve access to care.

Also commenting on Facebook, Glenn said:

“I’ve been to Scarborough Hospital many times for myself and my family, and despite the pressure the staff are under, they still manage to have a smile on their faces and do their jobs exceptionally well.”

He added:

“If people went when it is absolutely necessary and not just something that can be fixed at the chemist, it would really help.”

The NHS website states:

“NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now. 111 can direct you to the best place to get help if you cannot contact your GP during the day, or when your GP is closed (out-of-hours).”

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