Bridlington MP Calls for the Town to be a Testbed for NHS Innovation

The town's MP says Bridlington is in a Health Crisis right now.

Bridlington MP Charlie Dewhirst has declared that the town is facing a health crisis, highlighting the stark health inequalities compared to the rest of the East Riding of Yorkshire. In a recent House of Commons debate, Dewhirst urged the government to use Bridlington as a pilot scheme for new health initiatives.

The Bridlington MP outlined a number of health crisis being faced by local residents including:

• Dental Deserts: Dewhirst revealed a shocking lack of access to NHS dentists in Bridlington, with some children never having seen a dentist and emergency patients being sent over 60 miles away for treatment.
• Strained Primary Care: While acknowledging recent improvements, Dewhirst expressed concerns about the challenges residents face in securing GP appointments, particularly following the consolidation of practices.
• Underutilised Hospital: Despite recent investments in green technology, Bridlington Hospital remains chronically underused. Dewhirst believes it has the potential to become a vital community health hub, but fears the focus of York and Scarra NHS Trust, the provider of secondary care, lies elsewhere.
• Declining Outpatient Services: Dewhirst pointed to a sharp reduction in outpatient appointments offered at Bridlington Hospital, forcing residents to travel long distances for routine care.

Citing reports by Lord Darzi and Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Witty, Dewhirst called for a comprehensive strategy to address the health inequalities in Bridlington and other coastal towns. This strategy, he argues, should prioritize:

• Shifting care from hospitals to the community
• Delivering more integrated and joined-up care
• Providing care closer to where people live and work
• A national strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of coastal communities

Responding to Dewhirst's concerns, Minister of State for Health and Social Care, Stephen Kinnock acknowledged the challenges faced by Bridlington and pledged the government's commitment to fixing the broken health and care system. Kinnock highlighted a number of initiatives aimed at improving access to dentistry and GP services, including a 10-year plan for national health renewal to be published in spring 2025.

Kinnock's Key Points:

• Commitment to reform the dental contract to focus on prevention and retention of NHS dentists
• Plans to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments across the country, including Bridlington
• Investment in recruiting more GPs and guaranteeing face-to-face appointments
• Commitment to shifting resources from acute care into primary and community care
• Recognition of the specific challenges faced by coastal towns due to an aging population and lack of resources

Kinnock assured Dewhirst that the government is taking the situation seriously and will engage in a nationwide conversation, including input from parliamentarians, to inform the 10-year plan.

While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Kinnock stopped short of committing to Dewhirst's request to use Bridlington as a pilot scheme for new initiatives. He did, however, confirm that the specific needs of coastal communities will be factored into the 10-year plan.

The government has this week announced the launch of the biggest ever national conversation about the future of the NHS.

Starting this week, residents on the Yorkshire Coast can share their experiences, their frustrations, and their ideas for how to improve the NHS via the online platform www.change.nhs.uk, which will run for five months and is also available via the NHS app.

There will also be in-person events across the country, as well as an option for people to send in their contributions by post.

Scarborough and Whitby MP, Alison Hume said:

“After 14 years of Conservative neglect and mismanagement, the Labour government is taking immediate action to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future,”

“Every day constituents write to me suggesting ideas on how to improve the administration and services offered by the NHS. Many of the ideas are brilliant. I’ve been on to the new online consultation site and its really easy to use so I hope everyone will take the time to have their voices heard.”

The insight provided will inform the government's Ten Year Health Plan, due to be published in the Spring, which the government say will "deliver the unprecedented long-term reform needed to turn the NHS around."

Alison Hume added:

“We know the problems can’t be solved top-down or led from behind a desk in Westminster,”

“It must be built in partnership with the people who use our NHS - the staff who work in it, NHS leaders, health experts, industry, and the public.

“We have a huge opportunity to put the NHS back on its feet. I hope we’ll be the generation to take the NHS from the worst crisis in its history and make it fit for the future.”

The consultation platform is available at both www.change.nhs.uk and via the NHS

Lord Darzi’s Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66f42ae630536cb92748271f/Lord[1]Darzi-Independent-Investigation-of-the-National-Health-Service-in-England-Updated[1]25-