Clinics see fewer than one patient per day

FIGURES SUGGEST new clinics set up in a controversial overhaul of health services in East Yorkshire are seeing fewer than one patient a day.

Provisional figures from City Health Care Partnership, which is running the service, which has to be booked via the NHS 111 helpline, showed 49 patients attended the clinics at Withernsea and Driffield in April and May.

The centres, which run from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, were introduced in April, following the axing of minor injuries units (MIUs), despite a huge outcry.

In contrast in 2015/16, around 10 or 11 people were using the Withernsea MIU daily – although East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group say many were using it “inappropriately” for wound care, advice and follow up appointments, when other services were available.

The new “8 to 8” centres are supposed to provide a local service for everything from insect bites to cuts and grazes, but people have complained repeatedly about being sent miles away.

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said he was concerned by reports of “continuing conflicting referrals, unnecessary delays and long trips for patients”.

Coun Lyn Healing said the triage system used on 111 needed an overhaul, as people were ending up putting the phone down in “frustration and distress.”

The CCG said there was a wound clinic at Withernsea Hospital and “calling NHS 111 first means they are directed to the right service first time”. Validated data will be published later this month.