LONDON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite, the UK's largest union, has expressed outrage and concern at the sudden and unexpected closure today of 28 bed acute Kent Ward at Bridlington Hospital.

Unite official, Terry Cunliffe, has written to Margaret Edwards, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire and Humberside Strategic Health Authority, expressing the union's grave concerns and reminding her that assurances had been given by the outgoing Chief Executive that there would not be any closures due to staff shortages.

Unite is also concerned about the safety of transferring patients that have infections and DVT to a clean surgical ward.

Terry Cunliffe, Unite Regional Officer, said: "This sudden closure of Kent ward gives us grave concerns. It comes on top of the threatened removal of acute services which the union, along with the local community, have been campaigning to save.

"We had been given assurances by the Chief Executive that there would not be closures due to staff levels. It appears our warnings about the Trust recruitment freeze have been borne out."

Unite, during its campaign to keep acute services at Bridlington, have continually argued that staffing levels should not fall to a level that would result in the closure of vital services.

Notes to Editors:

Unite has been campaigning to keep acute services at Bridlington Hospital. There is a protest rally against the closures to be held on 26th July.

For further information contact Terry Cunliffe +44-(0)7776-202-007 or Martin Scanlon at +44-(0)7764-655751