Hospital given £1.2m for coastal health research

Scarborough Hospital has been awarded £1.2m of national funding for research into rural and coastal healthcare.

The research, by the universities of York and Birmingham, will establish how emergency care can be improved for patients in these areas.

Service demand is usually more acute on the coast, as emergency departments can face overcrowding in summer due to a high number of holidaymakers.

People living in rural coastal areas also have poorer health and a lower life expectancy than those living in urban areas.

The new study, which starts this month, will determine how the NHS can best deliver emergency care in rural and coastal areas.

Dr Arabella Scantlebury, from the University of Birmingham, said: "Changes need to be designed with the needs of local patients and local problems in mind.

"As such, local community groups from Scarborough are helping to make sure the research addresses issues that are important to people living in rural coastal communities."

Groups such as Age UK (North Yorkshire Coast and Moors) and SeeCHANGE provided support and feedback for the project.

SeeCHANGE, who campaign for a healthier Scarborough, described the announcement as a "welcome change".

Rebecca Blakely, community engagement officer for SeeCHANGE, said: "It will improve the environment and equipment of the hospital to help staff give the patients the correct and efficient treatment whilst they are in their care.

"The study will provide a better understanding of how emergency care is being transformed in rural coastal areas, by helping understand which models, or ways of working, help improve patient care and help emergency services cope with demand."

The findings of the study, due to be released in 2027, will inform national and international decision makers about how best to provide urgent emergency care.

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