Have your say: Residents asked to help shape future investments in Scunthorpe hospital

Following the announcement that the Government will not intervene in NHS plans to strip services from Scunthorpe hospital, North Lincolnshire Council has launched a six-week public survey to give residents a strong voice in shaping the future of this critical part of the local healthcare system.

The feedback will help the council build a clear case to lobby for extra investment and help secure the improvements our hospital needs.

Residents are urged to use the consultation as their chance to influence priorities and make sure our community gets the best possible healthcare for years to come.

While refusing to stop the changes, the health minister did say that the hospital will remain a “key part of the local health system”, and that further investment will come.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “As someone who was born in Scunthorpe General Hospital, I, like many residents care about local health services provided there, and I want to make sure that their voices are heard.

“This survey is about listening, understanding what residents value most, where they think investment should be focused, and how we can build a plan that cannot be ignored.”

Under the previous government, a new A&E was built for £17.3m and a community diagnostics centre (CDC) in the town centre for £19.4m.

The new A&E doubled the size of the previous department and the CDC provides a range tests, checks and scans such as CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound and blood tests, with almost 150,000 appointments available every year, close to the town centre and next to the multistorey car park where visitors can park for free for up to two hours.

Cllr Waltham added: “We know investment has already been made, and we’ve been told that Scunthorpe will not be forgotten. This is an opportunity to make sure future decisions are informed directly by the people who rely on these services every day. We intend to use your feedback to make sure that decision-makers in London step up and hear our views, then we can negotiate for more services and investment in our hospital.”

The survey will run for six weeks and will ask residents about their experiences, priorities and ideas for strengthening local healthcare. The results will be analysed and presented in a report to the North Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board, chaired by Cllr Waltham, to help inform future discussions with NHS partners.

The survey will be available online and through alternative formats to ensure as many residents as possible can take part.

More information, including how to complete the survey, is available at www.northlincs.gov.uk/current-consultations.