BARNSLEY hospital may be restricted to providing only an accident and emergency service because of a cash crisis, bosses revealed this week.

The stark warning was given by chief executive Jan Sobieraj, who issued an unprompted statement saying discussions will take place in the summer about proposals for the future.

He said those would ‘range from staying as we are to becoming an emergency care centre only to integrating all health services in Barnsley, not just hospital services’.

The Chronicle understands integrating Barnsley’s health services would involve the hospital being paid to take over some of Barnsley Primary Care Trust’s work – which includes community nursing.

But PCT chairman Tom Sheard said there were no plans to change present arrangements.

Mr Sobieraj said the hospital’s future is being looked at because proposed changes to the workforce – which involves demoting around 200 nurses – were not enough to address a potential £6m shortfall in funding for this year.

A hospital spokesman said the future was challenging, with less investment in hospitals, lower national payments for treatments and increased competition between hospitals among the reasons.

She added: “All these factors mean we need to take a close look at our future and the possible ways forward.

“We’ll be starting to look at the options in the summer with recommendations towards the end of the year.”

Barnsley West and Penistone MP Mick Clapham has said he will ask for an urgent meeting with Mr Sobeiraj and called for the town to put up a united front to keep its hospital.

He added: “There should be public consultation with the people of Barnsley to ensure hospital services are retained and we will campaign to make sure Barnsley keeps its hospital services.”

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