Driffield’s local hospital, Alfred Bean, is in grave danger.

Alfred Bean was once a hospital offering all kinds of services, from a maternity ward to an operating theatre. It has been systematically stripped down to the bare bones by numerous Conservative governments.

Recently Alfred Bean was downgraded from a Minor Injuries Unit to an ‘8 to 8 centre’ and in time we fear it will be closed altogether. In February 2021 Outpatients services were transferred to Hull hospitals. If it wasn’t for Alfred Bean being a COVID Vaccination Centre, who knows if the lights would still be on. Patients are told to travel to Bridlington, Hull or Beverley to access health services that have been cut from Driffield.

What has Driffield & Rural Labour Party done so far to help defend the Alfred Bean Hospital from threats from East Yorkshire CCG as funder and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust (HTFT) as landlord:

  • 6 Freedom of Information requests to CCG, HTFT (x2), our two GP practices and Matt Hancock;
  • Researching the 2013 law requiring the CCG duty to notify, consult and seek agreement from ERYC before any ‘substantial change’ in services;
  • Liaison with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel which advises Matt Hancock on possible CCG breaches of the 2013 Regulations; we were referred to a very supportive relevant precedent.
  • Investigation of Alfred Bean’s donation of land, checking of title deeds and register and securing of legal advice on the possible current applicability of historic restrictive covenants.
  • Receipt of information and advice from the President of the Community Hospitals Association.
  • Investigation of the case for nominating ABH as an ‘Asset of Community Value’.
  • Attendance (remotely) at meetings of the ERYC Health Care and Welfare Oversight and Scrutiny Sub-Committee and liaison with its Chair, Cllr Owen.
  • Exposure of exaggerated CCG claims regarding a new minor injuries service in Withernsea.
  • Discovery that the two Driffield GP practices allegedly funded nearly 3 months ago by the CCG to provide minor injuries services are still not notifying potential service users and in one case still explicitly deny minor injuries service provision on its web-site.
  • Survey (with assistance from Driffield and Wolds Weekly) of local public opinion on ABH futures, which secured 866 responses within less than 3 weeks.
  • Encouragement, support and drafting of funding bids to explore the history of ABH through newspaper and photo archives and collect reminiscences of ABH from residents in local care homes.  Three grants have so far been secured, including one from DTC; others are being pursued.
  • We have nominated Alfred Bean to be designated as an Asset of Community Value.

Driffield and Rural Labour have been active in campaigning to save Alfred Bean from further cuts. We will work along side anyone who is willing to join the fight. If you would like to help, get in touch.

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