Hospital Trust bosses reveal dates for A&E department’s reopening
THE reopening date for Cheltenham’s accident and emergency department has been announced.
The temporary closure is due to end next month, according to the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust.
The department was turned into a minor injury and illness unit, operating 8am to 8pm seven days a week, initially for a period of three months in June last year, to prepare for spikes in coronavirus cases. But the move sparked outrage.
There were fears it would be lost permanently, and campaigners demanded it reopen as soon as possible.
The phased reopening will start from June 9 with a consultant-led service seven days a week. The overnight nurse-led service will reopen on Wednesday June 30.
It means that Cheltenham A&E will be returned to its pre-pandemic state from July 1.
The move follows a drop in coronavirus case numbers over the past few months, with the rates of hospital admissions falling as well.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are delighted to announce the phased re-opening of Cheltenham General Hospital’s A&E department next month in response to the continued reduction in community transmission of Covid-19 and low hospital admissions.
“The department will reopen on Wednesday June 9 as a consultant-led service seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm, but remain closed overnight. The overnight nurseled service will reopen on Wednesday June 30.
“This means that from July 1 2021 Cheltenham A&E will be returned to its pre-pandemic state, in line with commitments we have made publicly and as agreed with our local health overview and scrutiny committee.
“Currently, the Cheltenham A&E department operates as a minor injuries and illness unit from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, and is closed overnight. Gloucestershire Royal Hospital has a full A&E department open 24 hours a day.
“The temporary changes to A&E at Cheltenham were introduced last summer as part of the hospital’s response to the pandemic. To support the reopening of Cheltenham A&E, a number of other services be will restored, including medical admissions to Cheltenham.
“Meanwhile, Cheltenham is also set to benefit from a £6.5 million investment in its radiology department, which means emergency patients accessing A&E will benefit from faster, more accurate and better diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and MRI scans.
“Patients coming for surgery will also benefit. The improvement works, which have already started and are scheduled to be completed in the autumn, include three new CT scanners, an additional MRI scanner and a much-improved physical environment.”
Professor Mark Pietroni, director of safety and medical director at the trust, said: “The A&E service in Cheltenham is very well regarded in the east of the county, so this announcement will come as welcome news.
“The reinstatement of the service to an A&E department will be done over a three-week period in June to ensure the smooth and safe transition. We’re confident these measures have reduced Covid-19 transmission among staff and patients and have enabled us to continue to provide planned care and cancer diagnosis and treatment, especially to those patients who are most vulnerable.
“The success of these changes has been demonstrated in many ways, including our 62-day and two-week wait cancer performance standards, where we have been one of the best performers in the country in seeing and treating patients referred to us by their GP.
“The public have also played their part in helping make our hospitals as safe as possible by following national guidance and being responsive to advice locally when accessing care. These measures mean we’re in a stronger position as we begin to emerge from the pandemic and look to recover the elective work postponed to make way for Covid patients.”
Last August, two months after the closure was put in place, Cheltenham’s Conservative MP Alex Chalk was demanding it reopen. The closure was extended in the autumn when directors realised there was a real prospect of a spike in Covid cases over winter.
The A&E service ... is very well regarded in the east of the county so this announcement will come as welcome news
Prof Mark Pietroni