Goole District Hospital FAQs

No. There are no plans to close GDH.  We want to ensure health and care services in Goole are fit to respond to today’s changing health needs and adapt to future challenges. We are continuing to consider how best to maximise the use of GDH, how best to use the skills and expertise of our Goole based staff and to understand how community-based services may be better delivered in the future. 

As the owner of the site and core service provider, Humber Health Partnership (HHP) has initially engaged with staff, stakeholders and local provider organisations to consider the various opportunities for the provision of health services at the hospital. HHP updated NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) in March 2025 on the work delivered so far and we are now working together to explore how the hospital and other local health services can do things differently to better support people to stay healthy, independent, and cared for closer to home whilst making best use of limited money and resources.   

No decisions have yet been made. Any proposals for substantive service change would need to be led by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and assured by NHS England, in line with national guidance.

The hospital service areas specifically being reviewed are Complex Neuro Rehabilitation, Surgery (including ophthalmology, which deals with eyes and sight), Medicine, Maternity, Outpatients and Diagnostics. 

This work will take around six months and, while that happens, services at the hospital will continue as they are. 

We want to ensure health and care services in Goole are fit to respond to today’s changing health needs and adapt to future challenges. 

 We are reviewing how we can: 

• Make the best use of hospital space and staff skills 
• Improve access to outpatient and diagnostic services
• Offer more care in the community, including at home
• Plan for investment in the site and facilities

No. Goole and District Hospital does have a future, and there are no plans to close it, but we do need to explore how the hospital and other local health services can do things differently to better support people to stay healthy, independent, and cared for closer to home whilst making best use of limited money and resources. 

Change can be worrying but it doesn’t always mean things that patients will notice; often, it’s about finding ways to improve how we work to make sure everyone has better outcomes. 

We see a bright future where local NHS services, community organisations, and voluntary groups work side by side to meet your changing health needs. 

Yes, we will be having initial conversations with the public and have events planned during May and June 2025.  Find details of the events here.

Yes.  A Top to Toe of services provided at GDH is available here.  

Please note that this information is subject to change and was accurate as at April 2024. 

Yes.  We have regular meetings with GP practices and colleagues in the Primary Care Network and have reiterated practices can continue to refer suitable patients to local services, subject to the usual patient choice guidelines they follow. 

No changes have been made to the telephony system or how it works for a number of years.  In most cases, teams cover both GDH and Scunthorpe General Hospital so when answering calls, they can offer appointments at any hospital (subject to clinical assessment). 

The hospital service areas specifically being reviewed are Complex Neuro Rehabilitation, Surgery, Medicine, Maternity, Outpatients and Diagnostics.   

Any proposals to change GP and dentistry services are not part of this review, and we are not aware of anything at the current time.  There is also no plan to remove CT (Computed Tomography) / MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provision or the breast screening service from Goole.  

We are, however, exploring how the hospital and other local health services can do things differently to better support people to stay healthy, independent, and cared for closer to home. 

A number of early, exploratory discussions have taken place to seek out potential partners with an interest in co-locating either on the existing GDH site or a potential new build. 

These include: 

•  Further and Higher Education partnership  
• GP-led step-up/step-down beds/intermediate care provision
• Extended primary/community care services  
• Administrative accommodation for cross-organisational working (One Public Estate) 
• VCSE-sector hub 

This work will continue over the coming months.  We see a bright future where local NHS services, community organisations, and voluntary groups work side by side to meet peoples’ changing health needs.  

We will be exploring all possible opportunities for GDH and whilst making best use of limited money and resources. 

Any decisions about GDH will be made using criteria like patient safety, clinical quality, future service sustainability, patient experience and access, making better use of facilities and staff resources as well as being cost-effective. 

Any proposals for substantive service change must also pass formal NHS tests, ensuring clinical evidence, patient engagement and consistency with national care standards.

We use the best data sources available to us including from the 2021 census, figures from the Office of National Statistics, information from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities as well as data from validated NHS systems.  Where appropriate, such data would be included in any impact assessments required to inform future decision-making. 

No decisions have yet been made.  The aim of this work is to find the best way to meet the changing health needs of the Goole population with the resources that we have available.  We do have a legal duty to operate within our nationally allocated financial envelope and there is insufficient funding in the system for HHP to continue providing services as they are now.  But change doesn’t always mean things that patients will notice; often, it’s about finding ways to improve how we work to make sure everyone has better outcomes. 

HHP has an estimated Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) efficiency target of £137 million for 2025/26.  These efficiency plans help us find ways to use resources more effectively, reduce costs and improve performance without impacting the quality of care or patient safety.

No decisions have yet been made, and this isn’t just about financial savings.  There will be a focus on balancing financial efficiency with maintaining or improving quality of care. 

Goole is the most common location for hospital outpatient appointments for people living locally, with more than 15,000 taking place every year for people living in DN14 postcodes. However, for every two face-to-face appointments that take place at GDH three take place in other hospitals. This is because some patients from Goole need specialist treatment (like radiotherapy) or need to see specialist teams of staff based elsewhere. Therefore, on average, there are around 62 journeys per day from Goole to other hospital sites around the Humber for face-to-face outpatient appointments. 

Patients from DN14 postcodes account for less than a quarter (22% in 2023/24) of the patients having surgery at GDH. Nearly twice as many (1,500) patients travel from North Lincolnshire each year, with a smaller number (600) travelling from North East Lincolnshire. 

No decisions have yet been made.  The review process will take around six months and any proposals to make a substantial service change would include consideration of potential alternative locations, along with an appropriate impact assessment. 

Potential alternatives could include Scunthorpe, Hull, Grimsby, or Castle Hill Hospitals for those services. These hospitals already support patients from Goole for many types of care today.

Like most towns in our region, the number of people living in and around Goole means the NHS can’t offer some services locally; it wouldn’t be safe or cost effective, and we don’t have enough staff to do it either.  That’s why, for care such as cancer treatment or emergency surgery, people are asked to go to another hospital that sees more patients with the same condition as them – where doctors and nurses can safely maintain their skills. 

Patients already travel for some services, and any potential future service changes will include consideration of clinical evidence. 

• Goole Hospital to Hull Royal Infirmary – 27.1 miles. Northern Rail offers train services from Goole to Hull, with fares starting from £6.40.   
• Goole Hospital to Scunthorpe General Hospital – 27.6 miles. The cheapest train ticket from Goole to Scunthorpe is £13.70, and the average train journey time is 1 hour and 9 minutes.
• Goole Hospital to Doncaster Royal Infirmary – 19.7 miles. a journey from Goole to Doncaster Royal Infirmary via train ranges from £7.20. 
• Goole Hospital to York Hospital – 23.8 miles. Goole to York Hospital by public transport is by train and bus, costing approximately £16-75. 
• Goole Hospital to Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby – 53.9 miles. Goole to Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby are train and bus combinations. It can cost between £15 and £41, depending on the specific route and ticket type. 

Distances are calculated by car on Google maps. Fares calculated by train on trainline website. 

No decisions have yet been made. Any potential future service changes would include consideration of capacity at alternative locations and the consequent impact on waiting times. 

No, there is no emergency department at GDH and ambulances do not attend carrying people who require emergency treatment.  These patients are taken to other hospitals with an emergency department open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

This is a complicated piece of work which we expect to take around six months to inform potential proposals.   Any proposals for substantive service change would need to be led by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and assured by NHS England, in line with national guidance.   

No decisions have yet been made.  Any potential future service changes would include discussions with staff and trade union colleagues, as appropriate.  

The ultimate impact will depend heavily on whether the review leads to expansion, restructuring, or reduction — something the NHS has not yet decided. 

Change can be worrying but it doesn’t always mean things that patients will notice; often, it’s about finding ways to improve how we work to make sure everyone has better outcomes.  It is right that we have the opportunity to discuss ways to make improvements with our staff who are often best placed to come up with solutions.  Where there is likely to be a potential change which may impact patients, we will always listen and seek views to inform our decisions. 

All information and updates will be shared on our website.

During May and June, we will be holding drop in events where people can ask questions and find out about the current position of GDH.  This will be followed by targeted engagement linked to service areas being reviewed, if appropriate.  

Any questions from the public can also be directed to the ICB via hnyicb.engagement@nhs.net.