Trust Board supports closure of Bridlington Care Unit and transition to community-based care

20 August 2026

The Board of Directors at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has supported the recommendation to permanently close Bridlington Care Unit (BCU) and move to a community-based model of care for patients who no longer need acute hospital treatment.

The decision follows a review of the closure proposals following recommendations made by the East Riding Health, Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee and feedback from patients, residents and other community stakeholders.

Bridlington Care Unit was established during the COVID-19 pandemic as a temporary step-down facility to provide additional capacity for people who were medically ready to be discharged from hospital but were delayed in accessing the rehabilitation or social care support they needed to return home.

Clare Smith, Chief Executive of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This decision was not taken lightly, and we recognise the strength of feeling in Bridlington, not just about the Care Unit but about the hospital’s future more broadly.

“The Board has supported the recommendation because patients who no longer need acute hospital treatment should, wherever it is safe and clinically appropriate, be supported to return home as soon as possible and with the right package of care around them.

“Most patients are already discharged from our hospitals with the appropriate support in place, and we will continue to work closely with community and social care providers to ensure that those who may have been admitted to the BCU whilst waiting for these arrangements to be made can be safely discharged with the support they need.”

An engagement programme was undertaken during the review period, which found strong support for local healthcare services in Bridlington and a clear desire to see Bridlington Hospital better used and developed in the future. The majority of people who responded to the survey were opposed to the closure of the Unit and expressed concern about the provision of alternative services.

Clare continued: “We want to be clear that Bridlington Hospital remains an important part of local healthcare provision. and we have been actively working to increase the services that are available there, particularly in planned surgery and outpatients.

“This decision is specific only to the BCU and does not impact the future of the wider hospital site. We have heard clearly that people want a stronger, more visible plan for services in Bridlington, and that work will continue with the community and our partners. Feedback from the engagement programme about diagnostics, outpatients, planned care and other local services will continue to inform the Trust’s Clinical Strategy and service planning.”

“In our conversations with residents, we have heard that people want greater transparency and an ongoing conversation about the future of healthcare in Bridlington, and we recognise we need to do more to build trust. We accept that challenge and will continue to work with local residents, staff, partners and elected representatives as we implement this change and as we develop our wider clinical strategy.”

The Trust will publish further information on the implementation timetable, transition arrangements and ongoing engagement opportunities once these have been confirmed.