Busy hospital A&E blamed on centre closure
STEFAN JAJECZNYK
THE closure of Accrington Victoria GP walk-in centre has been blamed for an ‘extremely busy’ hospital emergency department.
Hospital bosses were forced to urge people to consider using alternative services for minor injuries and illnesses, rather than attend the emergency department at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
In a message on Facebook, posted on August 4, the East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust said: “Our A&E is extremely busy at the moment.
“Please consider using alternatives such as the Minor Injuries Units at Accrington and Rossendale or the Urgent Care Centres at Blackburn and Burnley for less serious concerns.”
Hyndburn councillor Noordad Aziz has linked the pressure on services to the closure of the Accrington GP walk-in centre. ment.
Coun Aziz said when ‘Save the Accrington WalkIn Centre’ campaigners warned its patients would just go to Blackburn A&E instead, it was dismissed as ‘fear-mongering’.
He also claimed the East Lancashire CCG had publicised alternatives to the walk-in centre ‘poorly’.
He said: “Obviously, the number of walk-in patients was around 40,000 - and when they’re not satisfied with the provision of GP service, they’ll go to A&E.
“A lot of people are also avoiding going to the doctors, which isn’t good for people’s health either.”
A protest walk to the hospital in May was held as part of the campaign.
Coun Aziz added: “We did the walk to Blackburn Royal as part of the cam- paign, to highlight that this is the reality - when people are frightened, they are going to A&E. There is an extra burden and stretching of services at Royal Blackburn - which is one of the worst performing in the country - because of the pressure on it.”
Tony McDonald, deputy director of operations for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Our staff continue to work hard managing the pressures on our busy emergency services and ensure that patients with the greatest clinical need are treated first. We’d like to thank those patients who have heeded advice about which service is the most appropriate to attend.
“In some cases, self-care can be the most suitable course of action.”