Lincoln relay event scaled down due to weather

Gainsborough will upgrade from a Minor Injury Unit to an Urgent Treatment Centre at the John Coupland Hospital.

The change will be introduced on Monday, November 2 as part of Lincolnshire Community Health Services’ work to provide consistent urgent care across the county.

It will also look to safeguard the county’s A&E services facing winter flu and COVID-19 admissions.

There are currently five other UTCs in Lincolnshire, with LCHS operating them at Lincoln, Skegness, Boston, Louth and temporarily at Grantham.

Gainsborough’s UTC will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

The upgrade means Gainsborough patients can now book appointments and use a range of extra services such as X-rays, blood tests and pregnancy tests.

Injuries such as sprains, broken limbs, head injuries and infections can also be treated at UTCs.

Due to the ongoing fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, people are still being encouraged to call 111 before coming to hospital, but health bosses hope that this site upgrade will help care for more Lincolnshire residents.

Tracy Pilcher, deputy chief executive and director of nursing, allied health professionals and operations at LCHS, said: “The opening of our latest Urgent Treatment Centre at Gainsborough underlines our commitment to offer quality care, closer to home for people in Lincolnshire.

“Our Gainsborough Urgent Treatment Centre will now be able to provide urgent medical attention for a range of conditions including strains and sprains, broken limbs, cuts and grazes to coughs and colds, stomach pains and minor eye problems.

“Our friendly team will be joined by some new faces to deliver the same high levels of care available at our other urgent care sites across the county.”

People with suspected bladder cancer are being urged to get tested after a number of people chose not to attend their appointments due to self-isolation concerns.

Since June, over 70 people have turned down a cystoscopy test for potential bladder cancer, saying they wouldn’t be able to self-isolate for the required 72 hours before appointments.

People are believed to be rejecting the tests due to self-isolation worries as a result of work and other commitments, according to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust.

The 72 hour self-isolation period before an appointment was introduced by the trust to try and keep hospitals safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients will have already spoken to their GP about symptoms, and are now being urged to book an appointment and get tested should one be offered to them.

Andrew Simpson, deputy medical director at ULHT, said: “We know that diagnosing cancer early improves health outcomes so having a test as soon as possible is really important.

“We appreciate people lead busy lives but we cannot stress how important it is for them to attend their appointment.”

A woman has admitted burgling a home near Bourne just three months after she was released from prison following previous burglaries in South Witham and Stamford.

Elizabeth Biddle, 43, pleaded guilty to the burglary in Edenham Road, Hanthorpe, during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday.

The court heard items included jewellery, car keys, medals and coins were stolen during the burglary on the bank holiday afternoon of August 31, this year.

Biddle, formerly of Crabtree, Paston in Peterborough, appeared in court by video-link from custody at Peterborough prison.

A second woman has denied the same burglary charge.

Jodie Springer, 37, also of Crabtree, Paston in Peterborough, will go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court in February next year.

Biddle also pleaded guilty to a second burglary carried out at in a property in White Hart Street, Thetford, Norfolk, on July 12, last year.

On that occasion items including jewellery, a games console and passport were stolen.

Biddle was originally jailed for two years and eight months in September last year after she admitted taking goods valued at around £6,000 during a burglary in Tinwell Road, Stamford, on July 3, 2019.

She also admitted an attempted burglary in Empingham Road, Stamford, on the same date and a burglary in which a laptop and bank cards were taken from a property in Templars Way, South Witham, on July 30, 2019.

Biddle was linked to the South Witham burglary after she left her mobile phone behind at the scene.

Dianne Mundill, defending Biddle, asked for an updated probation report on her client after telling the court that she appeared to be doing well after being released from prison on licence earlier this year.

“She was released from prison in June,” Miss Mundill told the court. “This offence was in August.”

Miss Mundill said Biddle was also willing to provide help to the police to try and recover items stolen during the Hanthorpe burglary.

“She can give them the locations where items were left,” Miss Mundill added.

Recorder Paul Mann QC adjourned sentence on Biddle until after the trial of Jodie Springer.

But Recorder Mann warned Biddle that she was likely to receive another custodial sentence as she had committed the Hanthorpe burglary while on prison licence.

The Recorder told Biddle: “I will adjourn sentence on you until after the trial of your co-accused in February next year. Hopefully by March you will know your fate.

“In the meantime I have noted your offer to help the police recover the items, and I hope the police take up your offer “