URGENT CARE SET FOR MAJOR OVERHAUL
Centres aim to end ‘confusion’ over minor injury service
NEW ‘urgent treatment centres’ will be launched across Staffordshire as part of a major overhaul of emergency care.
NHS bosses say the planned transformation will tackle the current confusion faced by many patients with minor injuries or other ailments which do not require treatment at A&E.
The proposed UTCS will replace the minor injury units – such as those at Haywood Hospital in Burslem, and Leek
Moorlands
Hospital – which have different services and opening hours.
Dr Steve Fawcett, a GP and the clinical lead for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent’s Urgent and Emergency Care Board, says all the UTCS would offer the same core services – making it easier for patients to know where they need to go to be treated.
Members of the public are currently being asked to talk about their experiences of using urgent and emergency care, to help inform the development of the UTCS.
As part of the engagement process, Dr Fawcett was quizzed on the proposals by members of the adults and neighbourhoods scrutiny committee at Stoke-ontrent City Council.
Dr Fawcett said: “At the moment, Cannock MIU, Leek MIU and the Haywood are all slightly different. The offers are different, the opening hours are different and the issues that can be dealt with are different. That’s problematic, because it often means patients will travel around the system to get their issue seen to, when we should be getting it right first time round.
“The key bit about UTCS is the consistency of offer – they will have to go 12 hours a day, they have to have a certain staffing level, they have to have a core set of issues they can treat. But they will also have the ability to have add-ons”
The UCTS will be usually led by GPS, and will be staffed by doctors, nurses and other staff with access to simple diagnostic equipment, such as heart monitors and potentially X-ray.
They would be located away from emergency departments, and would offer booked appointments through NHS 111 so patients can avoid long waits. The committee was told the UTCS would also help the local NHS cope with national workforce shortages and meet waiting time targets.
Committee vice-chair Maxine Clark raised concerns over how all members of the public would be kept informed about the plans.
The NHS officials at the meeting agreed that it will be important to reach out to all members of the community, using a variety of methods, such as working with voluntary groups.
The public can take part in the engagement via an online survey. Alternatively they can call 0333 150 2155 or email mlcsu.involvement@ nhs.net to discuss ways to share their views. The engagement is due to end on October 31.