and district
Withernsea
COMMUNITY NEWS Issue 01 - October 2020
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www.withernseacommunitynews.co.uk
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Improvements in local healthcare provision Withernsea residents and councillors have welcomed news there will be improvements to healthcare provision in the town. Launched on Monday, September 28 patients in Withernsea and the surrounding area can call their GP on 03333 324242 and will be given the option to press four to redirect them to a triaging service for minor injuries. A local clinician as opposed to a central NHS 111 operator, will then offer advice and support either online or over the phone. The clinician will be able to direct the patient to Withernsea Hospital for same-day treatment, or otherwise direct them to Beverley Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) or Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI), depending on the severity of the injury. Anyone with a HU19 postcode will be offered a free taxi service to the nearest UTC if they have no other means of transport. The introduction of this service follows the replacement of the town’s minor injuries unit (MIU) with an appointment only ‘8-to-8 Centre’. This involved residents having to call NHS 111 to arrange an appointment as opposed to the previous provision of local walk-in treatment. The 8-8 Centre was plagued with issues since its introduction. One of the main issues being that NHS 111 operators were unaware of its existence when referring patients leaving them frustrated and the service being underutilised. MP for Beverley and Holderness Graham Stuart has added his voice to those welcoming a long soughtafter improvement to healthcare provision in Withernsea. The local Member of Parliament has been campaigning for the situation to improve since the closure of the MIU in the town in March 2018, along with local Ward Councillors Lyn Healing, Dave Tucker and Paul Whitehead. Welcoming the news, Mr Stuart said: “I hope this step will make a
significant difference to the people of Withernsea when they’re looking for quick and convenient treatment for their cuts, bumps, burns and sprains. “It was clear from my constituents getting in touch that the 8-to-8 service hasn’t been working from the very outset. That’s why I’ve been continually pressing local health bosses to recognise that their experiment failed and to listen to the community’s concerns. “You can’t have a service that puts people through the rigmarole of answering question after question only to be told the same thing every time: get yourself to Beverley, Hull
or Bridlington to be seen there. It’s all very well and good for people with cars, but many in Withernsea need treatment on their doorstep. “Although you could get a taxi service before, it wasn’t made clear enough by NHS 111 operators who didn’t know anything about services in the area. “To give the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) credit, they have been much more active in listening to local concerns since Emma Latimer came on board last November, while Holderness Health and local Ward Councillors Healing, Tucker and Whitehead have also championed improvements.”
People whose condition turns out to be more complex than originally thought will receive immediate treatment in Withernsea before being sent to the nearest Urgent Treatment Centre or, if necessary, HRI for the rest of their care. Patients with chronic wounds requiring dressing should continue to contact their healthcare professional on 01482 247111 for an appropriate treatment room appointment at Withernsea Hospital.
Mr Stuart chaired a meeting with the CCG, Cllr Lyn Healing, Holderness Health and the City Health Care Partnership on Friday, October 2 about healthcare provision in the town see page 12 for the outcome.
Have a spectacularly spooky Halloween Everyone is gearing up for a slightly different Halloween this year. From pumpkin picking, the town pumpkin trail and Halloween afternoon tea. See our Spooktacular guide on page 6.
PUMPKINTASTIC: Fun at the Pumpkin Patch at Bewholme
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