Commitment given for urgent care centre
Newark's reclassified emergency unit will be called an urgent care centre regardless of what NHS Nottinghamshire County's board decides, a public meeting was told last night.
The chairman of Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust, which runs Newark Hospital, Mrs Tracey Doucet, said there was clear public opinion in Newark in favour of an urgent care centre.
About 4,000 people signed a petition earlier this year calling for a 24-hour urgent care centre.
Mrs Doucet said: "Urgent care does what it says on the tin. For us the sign that goes above the door at Newark will be urgent care centre."
A paper is going to the PCT's board on Thursday setting out proposals for two options - a minor injuries unit "plus" or an urgent care centre. A decision on the name is due to be made by the board at that meeting. They will also decide whether to accept a proposal for a 24-hour unit.
Mrs Doucet said it may be that the PCT commissioned a minor injuries unit, but it was up to Sherwood Forest Hospital's board to decide the name.
She said it was important for the reputation of the hospital that the public were clear about what could be treated at the unit.
People should ring 999 if they were having a heart attack, she said, but they should come to Newark Hospital for an urgent medical incident.
About 30 members of the public attended the meeting at the Town Hall, organised by the MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer.
Mr Mercer said the actual wording of the unit's name was unimportant, it was the confidence the chosen title gave people that mattered.
"I am going to come down very firmly that we don't have a minor injuries unit," he said. "It is not a minor injuries unit, it is not cuts and bruises - we do more than cuts and bruises."
Mr Mercer announced at the meeting that the Health Secretary, Mr Andrew Lansley, had agreed to come to Newark to visit the hospital and also East Midlands Ambulance Service. He said a date had not yet been set.
For more on this and other stories buy your Advertiser every Friday.
