Trust wants urgent care centre
Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust and its board of governors both want a 24-hour urgent care centre open seven days a week at Newark Hospital.
They did not support the minor injuries unit “plus” proposed by NHS Nottinghamshire County.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals raised concerns that without a 24/7 urgent care model there would be a risk to sustaining other services at Newark.
The trust’s governors were concerned that the longer-term viability and security of the hospital would be affected by changes to urgent care.
The trust’s executive director of strategy and improvement, Jane Warder, said a 24/7 model would be the most effective for the hospital as a whole.
She said the governors felt the public portrayal of the debate on the urgent care options seemed to be more about what could be done with the released resources if the unit closed in the early hours, rather than how a 24-hour service helped to sustain other services at the hospital.
Doctors in A & E currently provide overnight medical cover on the wards, including for patients who have had operations.
Jane Warder said the same doctor could potentially provide overnight cover at the urgent care unit, on the hospital wards, and an out-of-hours’ service.
She stressed that 24-hour medical cover would still have to be provided at the hospital even if the PCT’s board chose option two.
Sherwood Forest’s proposed urgent care centre would be led by senior clinicians.
It would not only deal with minor injuries and ailments but would also offer urgent outpatient assessments for people with long-term conditions.
They would be able to see a consultant either the same day or the following day after seeking medical help, without the need to be admitted as an inpatient.
Jane Warder said both NHS trusts wanted Newark to be a vibrant local hospital providing as many services as possible.
“Our strategy for Newark Hospital will be to build on the services that we can offer and attract more patients to the services we currently provide,” she said.
The trust plans to work with the PCT to better inform people of the services available.
Jane Warder said more local people using those services would help to keep the hospital viable and sustainable.
