Richmondshire to research work of other small hospitals
Richmondshire Council have announced that they will be conducting research into the work of small hospitals elsewhere in the country in a bid to prove that the services to be scrapped at the Friarage Hospital must stay.
The research will look into the work done by at least three other hospitals in the West Country who face a similar amount of demand for services to that of the Friarage. This includes the North Devon Hospital which operates a 24 hour maternity and children's service.
– Councillor John Blackie, District leader for Richmondshire Council"We consider the local NHS, rather than dismissing out of hand the opportunity to continue with these hugely important services at The Friarage, and excluding this option from the forthcoming consultation on downgrading them, should be asking themselves the question if these small hospitals can do it, why can’t we?
The evidence we collect from our fact finding mission is intended to prompt our local health chiefs to provide us, the local public their organisations serve, with their answer to this question."
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