Bridlington Care Unit closure confirmed by NHS Trust

The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed the permanent closure of the Bridlington Care Unit (BCU) in East Yorkshire. The decision aims to transition toward a community-based care model for patients who no longer require acute hospital treatment but need rehabilitation or social care support.

The move has faced significant opposition. The union Unite warned that the closure puts nurses and healthcare assistants at risk of redundancy or transfers to York or Scarborough. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the decision as “a cruel decision that will leave vulnerable patients at risk of substandard care or stranded miles from home.”

Local health advocates, including the Bridlington Health Forum, expressed concerns that closing the unit will increase congestion in hospitals in Scarborough, York, and Hull, potentially leading to increased “corridor care” and difficulties in admitting patients from emergency departments. While the Trust acknowledged the strong local opposition, Chief Executive Clare Smith stated the decision was made because patients should be supported to return home as soon as it is clinically safe and appropriate.