The recent announcement that the Lambert Memorial Hospital 14 bed ward, closed over a year ago, will not be reopening has been met with real disappointment by many constituents in Thirsk and Malton. Local MP Kevin Hollinrake, who has previously expressed his concern about the future of the hospital, fully recognises the negative reaction to the news.
“When the ward closed due to staff shortages, I very much feared that is was ‘closure by the back door’. The loss of this service to the community, after so many years of much valued care being provided in the Lambert, is a sad blow to those who have been campaigning to reopen it. I am keenly aware of how much this news will upset those local people who attended meetings and wrote letters requesting the 14 bed ward be kept open. I hope that the building will be put to good use for the continued good health of the town’s residents. We must make sure that high calibre local provision for inpatient and palliative care is maintained and welcome the primary care proposal for the Lambert. So many families have benefited from the Lambert Memorial Hospital; its place in Thirsk’s history is hugely important to local people and I sincerely hope it has a role in its future."
The announcement of the closure comes after a public consultation on community health services, undertaken by NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group.Last week the CCG’s Governing Body made the decision to approve ‘Option Three’ of the ‘Transforming Our Communities’ consultation. They announced that, as a result of choosing this plan, the Lambert building will “return to the sole ownership of NHS Property Services. The CCG will therefore no longer be responsible for the building or services. South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust will be permanently relocating all staff and equipment.” However, it was recommended to the Governing Body that the Lambert Hospital building be used for primary health care.