MP Robert Jenrick launches campaign to reinstate the 24/7 urgent treatment centre in Newark
Newark MP Robert Jenrick has launched a campaign to reinstate overnight urgent care at Newark Hospital, claiming the provision of emergency care in the town is unacceptable.
Fresh from his re-election success, Mr Jenrick said the urgent care centre was his top priority, followed by fighting the solar farm and BESS applications and improving the state of roads.
Newark Urgent Care Centre was closed overnight from 10pm to 9am during the covid pandemic. In March this year NHS leaders extended the opening hours to 8am-10.30pm following feedback from residents, stakeholders and healthcare experts – despite most people calling for 24-hour care to be reinstated.
The Integrated Care Board, which organises local healthcare, says an average of only one person an hour is treated there and the unit could not be safely staffed.
But Mr Jenrick said: "Having spoken to tens of thousands of residents in all parts of the constituency throughout the election campaign, it was overwhelmingly clear to me that the number one issue for residents is the unacceptable provision of emergency care in our area.
“At a bare minimum, residents want to see the reinstatement of 24/7 care provision at the urgent care centre. I want to see that happen and am going to make this my top priority.”
Mr Jenrick has written to Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, which runs Newark Hospital, calling for all options to be explored.
In his letter he said: “There is a sentiment amongst residents that the modest change to opening hours proposed earlier in the year is just ‘window dressing’.
“The people of Newark are not only disheartened, but they are also perplexed by the inconsistency of healthcare provision and question why other urgent treatment centres in similar-sized towns, such as Grantham, are open 24/7 despite presumably facing the same or even greater staffing constraints.
“A 24/7 urgent care service is not a luxury, but a necessity for a town of our growing size and scope. Given Newark's expansion, we must reconsider and adapt the service hours of our urgent treatment centre to reflect our town's evolving circumstances. It is clear to me that we need to reinstate 24/7 service at Newark Urgent Treatment Centre. The status quo is simply unacceptable and needs to change.”
The chief executive at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Amanda Sullivan, said: “The feedback from residents of Newark clearly indicated the high value they place on the service received at the UTC and whilst there was clearly a strong preference for a return to 24 hours opening, this was balanced against other factors including current service usage and operational and staffing levels, within a rounded evidence-based decision.”
She added: “We have committed, via Nottinghamshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, to both promote the new opening hours and the other ways that Newark residents can access urgent care and also to review the operation of the new hours over the next 12 months.
“Elected members and other stakeholders will continue to be kept informed during this coming period.”
She recommended people who need urgent care overnight to ring 111 and will receive clinical advice without having to travel.
David Selwyn, acting chief Executive of Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “We share the passion of local people for Newark Hospital and are committed to working with NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB to provide high quality, sustainable services that meet the needs of local people.
“We recognise the outcome of the recent ICB and expert clinical reviews and are working to implement the extended opening hours for the Newark Urgent Treatment Centre."
