A Thirsk hospital ward is facing closure due to understaffing

A 14 bed ward at the Lambert Memorial Hospital has been closed by South Tees Hospitals NHS trust

They say chronic staff sickness and absences risked compromising patient safety

But North Yorkshire County Council are adamant the ward, used for re-habilitation, palliative care and diagnostics, is reopened urgently.

"We are extremely concerned by this development", said County Councillor Jim Clark, the committee's chair,

"Especially with winter approaching and the additional pressures this brings on the health service. 

"We are especially unhappy that the South Tees Trust is not reviewing their decision until next January 2016  and that much-needed beds will be closed all that time."

Professor Tricia Hart, Chief Executive of the South Tees Hospitals Trust, attended today's Scrutiny of Health committee meeting to explain that a combination of long-term staff sickness, absence and vacancies had put considerable pressure on the ward and risked compromising patient safety. 

Temporary closure of the ward had therefore become necessary

But health scrutiny members are unhappy that they were made aware of these latest developments only a week ago.

Cllr Clark continued: "This situation must have been anticipated and yet the Trust has only let us know very late in the day."

North Yorkshire's Scrutiny of Health Committee will be meeting again in November and has called on the Trust to come back with a joint report, showing how the NHS and social care, will work together to mitigate the impact of the ward closure with the approach of the winter period.