‘This is an opportunity to make sure future decisions are informed directly by the people who rely on these services every day’
Ivan Morris Poxton Local Democracy Reporter
14:35, 06 Jan 2026
Scunthorpe General Hospital’s latest Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, when it newly opened in 2023 – the council wants to build a case for similar big investments in the hospital’s future(Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford)
A six-week public survey has been launched by North Lincolnshire Council to gather feedback to build a case for extra investment in Scunthorpe General Hospital. It follows the Government’s recent decision to not intervene in the Humber Acute Services review.
It is through this review that it has been decided some services at Scunthorpe General Hospital will be removed and pooled with elsewhere. The hospital will no longer have a trauma unit, and adult patients with heart, lung or stomach problems who may need a more than 72 hours stay in hospital will go to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.
The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has said the consolidation of services is necessary to ensure seven day consultant-led care and will improve the quality of care patients receive. North Lincolnshire Council has strongly opposed changes to Scunthorpe General Hospital services and asked the Government to intervene.
It has now launched a survey on the grounds of giving residents a strong voicing in shaping the future of Scunthorpe General Hospital. In declining to intervene in the Humber Acute Services review, Health Minister Karin Smyth said the hospital will remain “a vital part of the health economy”.
North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds Ward) said as someone born in the hospital, like many residents he cares about 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.”
In 2023, a £17.3m new A&E department opened at the hospital, double the size of its previous version. Last year, a new £19.4m Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened in Lindum Street, Scunthorpe, which was set in motion before the General Election.
Cllr Waltham continued: “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, available online and in other formats, asks 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. This will inform future discussions the council has with NHS partners. More information, including how to complete the survey, is available via here.
Cllr Waltham previously called for investment in the hospital’s maternity services in the Summer, after the announcement of a review of a national maternity and neonatal services. More recent investment plans for Scunthorpe General Hospital have included a focus on making it one of the most environmentally sustainable NHS sites in the UK.
Planning approval was given last year for a new ‘energy centre’ that will house an electric-power boiler system, replacing the site’s gas boilers. A number of solar panel-related planning matters are also in progress.
The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) has sought permission for a 1,106 kWp solar canopy for electricity generation and consumption on-site at a staff car park off Church Lane. It has also applied to confirm if approval is needed for installing solar panels on several hospital buildings.
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