A&E cuts could see influx at Lincoln

A&E services at Lincoln County Hospital could see an influx of patients following plans to slash 24 hour emergency care at Newark Hospital.

Plans to overhaul services at Newark Hospital could see its A&E department closing between midnight at 7am each day.

People who would usually be seen during these hours will instead have to use the out of hours GP service or travel to A&E departments in Lincoln, Nottingham or at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton in Ashfield.

And proposals for new housing means the population of the Nottinghamshire market town is expected to swell from 48,000 to 73,000 by 2030.

The public consultation on the town's A&E finishes next month and if the scheme is approved by the board at Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust, the reduced A&E service at Newark Hospital is likely to be implemented by the end of the year.

Matt Youdale, director of communications at the PCT explained that there are problems with giving the department in Newark the title 'A&E' as the hospital does not have an intensive care department or 24 hour access to anaesthetics.

He said the name of the department might need to change to a 'minor injuries unit', similar to the service available at the John Coupland Hospital in Gainsborough.

Mr Youdale said that it was possible that more patients from Newark will attend A&E at Lincoln County Hospital.

"But the role of Lincoln will be to stabilise the patient before they are transferred back to Newark." he said.

"There are a lot of people going to A&E that have minor injuries or could use the out of hours service."

Clare White, spokesman for ULHT, said that they are working alongside Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust.

"We have received a copy of the consultation document and are currently requesting further information about the proposals from NHS Nottinghamshire County who are leading the consultation process," said Mrs White.