Eliot A&E could see pressure eased

A NEW urgent care centre at Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital will ease the strain on the under pressure A&E department.

That’s the view of the nearby hospital’s medical director, Gordon Wood, who has spoken out ahead of the centre’s opening today.

The new facility on the site of the hospital replaces the walk-in centre in Camp Hill.

The decision was made to close the centre housed within the estate’s GP surgery back in January following a review by the NHS Warwickshire North Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

However Mr Wood said that not only is it the right decision, as it ensures all services are available on one site, it will also help staff on the frontline who are dealing with an unprecedented increase in patient numbers.

Mr Wood said: “The Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision to relocate the urgent care walk-in service to the George Eliot Hospital site means there will be a service that meets patients’ needs first time, in one visit.

“Having one easily recognisable point of access will reduce confusion on which service to choose.

“It also enables patients to access a range of diagnostics or other on site services and specialists, if required, to best meet their urgent care health requirements.

“Many people who attend our existing A&E could be treated in an Urgent Care Centre and this new facility will allow our A&E teams to focus the most seriously unwell patients.”

People needing to access the new centre are being advised to use the normal A&E entrance. They will then be assessed as to where they should receive treatment.

The Urgent Care Centre is suitable for injuries and illnesses which are not critical but that can’t wait for a GP appointment.

This includes cuts and wounds needing stitching, infections, minor burns or dislocations.

Admitting that the relocation will mean some patients will have to travel further afield, Dr Deryth Stevens, chair of NHS Warwickshire North CCG, added: “Urgent care is for those medical needs that are urgent but nonlife threatening, however some people can be unsure about what service or help they may need.

“By relocating our urgent care walk-in service to the George Eliot Hospital, we can ensure that the full range of urgent care needs can be met in one place.

“We recognise that relocating the walk-in service to George Eliot Hospital will mean some people will have to travel further.

“The consultation showed us that people were prepared to travel if this meant they got the care they needed first time.

“The new location enables better access to the greatest number of people and delivers some of the specific benefits that people told us they wanted us to achieve and were important for them.”

The new centre will operate from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week including bank holidays.