MP demands answers over hospital changes
An MP is demanding an explanation from health bosses over how changes to Newark Hospital will affect patients.
The Newark MP, Mr Robert Jenrick, said he was being fobbed off by Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital.
Mr Jenrick wants to know what changing the hospital’s Urgent Care Centre to an Urgent Treatment Centre will mean, amid fears the facility will be downgraded.
“I want a meeting with the trust and the CCG for urgent clarification as to what their strategy is for the Urgent Care Centre, the staffing and what the implications to patients are,” Mr Jenrick said.
The CCG, which commissions health services locally, is leading plans to create the Urgent Treatment Centre at Newark from the end of March. The move is part of a national Conservative Government policy to create such centres to help ease pressure on other areas of the NHS.
Mr Jenrick, a government Treasury minister, said people were sick of the continual changes and no one understood the reasons for them, or what their impact would be.
A major concern was the possible loss of Newark Hospital’s emergency doctor, leaving GPs, emergency nurse practitioners and advanced nurse practitioners in place.
Mr Jenrick told the Advertiser he was being fobbed off in his attempts to discover what impact that would have, and was concerned the latest reclassification was a further downgrading.
“We are being told that we have to have a new name and it is claimed it is because of a new national classification. But are we being misled?” Mr Jenrick said.
“What does it actually mean for patients and for the town? It is a conflicting message and poor messaging, both of which lead to further confusion.
“Under what circumstances do you go to the hospital?
“If there is not an emergency doctor and it is only to be staffed by GPs assisted by higher-qualified nurses, I ask what does that mean for the types of emergencies the urgent care centre is capable of handling?”
Mr Jenrick said the reclassification posed questions for walk-in cases and those arriving by ambulance.
'Honesty is called for'
He said he was unclear whether the very sick, those in recovery or those receiving end-of-life care could stay on the wards, particularly overnight, without an emergency doctor present.
“It is my priority to see no further downgrading of the hospital and I certainly would not want to see any attempt at that through a subtle change in staff now that could lead to material changes down the line in terms of the patients that can be seen.
“I hope the plan is not to save money through not having an emergency doctor on duty at Newark and focusing on King’s Mill yet again.
“Despite numerous letters and emails, I have not been able to get answers.
“Honesty is called for. There needs to be scrutiny of what they are up to.
“I wish to make clear my disappointment that, yet again, there is a change in strategy despite numerous strategies in the past and bogus consultations.”
The chairman of the Say Yes To Newark Hospital campaign group, Mr Francis Towndrow, said he feared the changes could be brought on by the CCG’s need to save money, which has seen funding for some services withdrawn or reduced.
“It is time for the CCG, the trust, MPs and councillors to turn to the Government and say: ‘Enough is enough.’ It is time to invest in our hospital,” Mr Towndrow said.
“A lot of what has happened in the past has happened by stealth and this latest change could appear to be following that route.”
It is said the urgent treatment centre would continue to treat the same illnesses and injuries as it does now and would still be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In a joint statement Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The CCG and trust have jointly written to Mr Jenrick responding to his questions on February 6, 2018.
“A meeting has also been arranged for March 9 and members of the CCG and trust leadership team welcome the opportunity to discuss in more detail during this meeting.”
Members of the public can register to attend the next consultation meetings on the proposed changes for Newark Hospital.
The meetings take place a week today, from 10am to noon, at Newark and Sherwood District Council’s offices at Castle House, Great North Road, Newark; and at Holy Trinity Community and Partnership Centre, Boundary Road, on March 21, from 1pm to 3.30pm.
To register to attend follow the links: Castle House — www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/patient-and-public-engagement-event-newark-urgent-treatment-centre-tickets-43339615958
Holy Trinity — www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/patient-and-public-engagement-event-newark-urgent-treatment-centre-tickets-43303221100
In line with national policy
Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued a statement about the planned changes at Newark.
The statement said: “The service changes to the Urgent Care Centre in Newark are in line with a national directive that aims to simplify the urgent care system so patients are able to receive the right care in the right place.
“Urgent treatment centres will replace walk-in centres, urgent care centres, minor injury units and other local units providing differing levels of service across the country.
“The policy states that this exercise should be completed everywhere by December 2019.
“The service changes are not about prioritising one hospital over another. They are following national policy, set by the Government to make it clearer for the public to understand which NHS service they should use.
“The clinical model and, therefore, the workforce of the Urgent Treatment Centre (at Newark) are yet to be confirmed and a clinically-led project group, which includes the CCG and providers including SFHT, is currently developing potential options.
“The centre will be the hub for a range of urgent care services, linking in effectively with primary care services and other NHS services such as NHS111, the ambulance service, and emergency care.
“The CCG is committed to keeping the public and local stakeholders informed about developments and held a public drop-in session during January.
“We will hold two further engagement events for the public, which residents are encouraged to attend. The events will be an opportunity for the public to share their views about the services provided at Newark Hospital.”
