THE collective of GPs that makes up the unattractively titled Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group appears determined not to repeat the mistakes of its lengthy battle to downgrade paediatric and maternity services at the Friarage in Northallerton.

The group now wants to fully inform residents about the options for the future of community hospital services in Hambleton.

This sentiment has been widely welcomed, but has also drawn scepticism from people who have read the summary explanation which includes this jargon-laden sentence: “This option would create a robust mechanism for the responsive and person centred delivery of palliative and end of life care, which is tailored to their individual needs and wishes, and the new model will see practitioners and carers working as part of the integrated locality team and linking into specialist palliative care services where required to enable this level of care to be delivered.”

Those who have battled through it say they have been left baffled by it.

THERE are growing reports across North Yorkshire of a rise in racism and bigotry following the EU referendum.

Councillors and church leaders are quick to point out that they know of no incidents in their areas but they go on to suggest actions to make foreign-born residents feel welcome. When a Hambleton resident alerted North Yorkshire Police to swastika graffiti on a proLeave roadside sign, they were informed police had been aware of it for some time, but had not acted as they did not know whose sign it was.

When the resident replied with consternation that it did not matter whose sign it was, a patrol was dispatched to remove it.