MP urges patients to opt for town treatment
The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, has called for more people to be treated at the town’s hospital.
He wants an end to a risk-averse attitude to running the hospital.
Mr Mercer told the Advertiser people should demand to be treated at Newark, and that he wanted services at the hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) upgraded.
He said it made business sense for Sherwood Forest Health NHS Foundation Trust to use the hospital as much as possible.
Mr Mercer, who has met the trust’s interim chairman, Mr Chris Mellor, to discuss the hospital’s future, said: “The message we have to get across is that people want to go to Newark Hospital and should insist on going to Newark Hospital.
“A large number of people who should be being treated at Newark are not.
“My message to Newark is —demand to be treated there.”
Mr Mercer said he did not know why GPs were not referring people to Newark, other than a possible lack of awareness of the full range of services.
He said: “There was a situation where King’s Mill was overrun with elderly people with flu-like symptoms and Chris Mellor could not understand why they were not sent to Newark.
“The Friary Ward has been refurbished and redecorated but is still empty. Why is it not yet being used? There seems to be a risk-aversion in running the hospital that is not healthy.”
Mr Mercer said the possibility of the MIU being upgraded should be looked at.
“The trust has got to look with urgency at providing a better level of service at the current MIU,” he said.
“I have made that point forcefully to people running the hospital.”
He said there should be some ability to accept patients with chest pains or suspected heart attacks and stabilise them.
He said, if at all possible, people should ask ambulances to take them to Newark.
“It is clear to me that unless the crew comes from Newark and is fully familiar with Newark Hospital they will always err on the side of caution and take people elsewhere,” he said.
Mr Mercer’s comments were welcomed by the Say Yes to Newark Hospital Campaign.
The chairman, Mr Francis Towndrow, said: “‘An upgrade to Newark Hospital’s MIU to a level found at Grantham or Worksop, towns of similar size, is essential, and would be most welcome.”
The interim chief executive of the trust, Mr Eric Morton, has said that he wants more people to be treated at Newark and will personally visit GPs to find out why people are often not referred there.
However, he has said no service will be provided at Newark that it is not safe to provide.
The trust has produced a full directory of services at Newark Hospital, including outpatient, inpatient and day case procedures, which is available on their website. It covers all conditions that can be treated at Newark and those that can’t.
Visit www.sfh-tr.nhs.uk and follow the our services link.
