Local MP Andrew Percy chaired a meeting at Goole Hospital last Friday between local campaigners and Councillors, concerned at the loss of beds at Goole Hospital, and Trust officials to discuss the future of services at the hospital.

A number of beds at the Hospital have been reduced in recent years and just a couple of years ago the Rivers Ward, caring for elderly mental health patients, was closed altogether.

Andrew says, "I have been supporting the campaign run by Josie Head who is concerned at the reduction of beds at the hospital in recent years. Josie is running a non-political campaign in the hoping of winning commitments from the NHS Trust regarding their future plans for Goole. Of particular concern to me and the campaign is the number of people saying they wanted to be treated at Goole but couldn't be.

Our meeting last week was a good first meeting and we were assured that the Trust was absolutely committed to Goole Hospital and to increasing the number of people it treats. This was obviously very positive but there are still other questions that we need to pursue in more detail.

The Trust explained that they had been pushed very hard last year to make savings which has left them with something of a black-hole in their finances as they try to cover the costs of a pay award. The Trust has also been pushed in recent years by Government to reduce the time people stay in hospital and they explained that in some circumstances this meant they did not need as many beds.

We will be going back for another meeting in September and we have also arranged a trip around the Hospital so that we can see the wards for ourselves and get to speak to staff and patients.

Rest assured, I wont accept any proposals to changes services at Goole that would leave local people less well looked after."