January 11, 2017 9.14 am
This story is over 66 months old
Lincolnshire health services under extra pressure as cold snap looms
Health bosses say A&E departments in Lincolnshire are “exceptionally busy” and are asking patients to consider alternative services as a blast of cold weather heads for the county. Local health services say they are facing increasing demand as a weather warning for cold conditions and possible snow edges nearer. An updated warning from the Met…
Health bosses say A&E departments in Lincolnshire are “exceptionally busy” and are asking patients to consider alternative services as a blast of cold weather heads for the county.
Local health services say they are facing increasing demand as a weather warning for cold conditions and possible snow edges nearer.
An updated warning from the Met Office is in place for showers of snow and sleet in Lincolnshire between five past midnight on Friday, January 13 and five to midnight that day.
Forecasters say two to four centimetres of snow may affect lowland levels and disruption to some transport networks is expected. Strong winds will also affect coastal areas of the county.
A yellow weather warning is in place for Friday: Met Office
Social care staff have been placed in all hospitals to help patients return home as quickly as possible, freeing up hospital beds, as well as signposting people at the doors of A&E departments who may not need to be there.
Lynne Bucknell, hospital services manager at the council, says: “Winter means the health and care system as a whole faces considerable challenges in dealing with greater numbers of patients, this is particularly the case when we have severe weather.
“In social care, we’ve planned with our health colleagues for increased demand. We have social care staff based in all our hospitals, making sure people are getting home safely as soon as they’re ready. We also have staff at the front door of the hospital to help people who need support but don’t need to be at A&E.”
Interim Director of Operations Michael Woods at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The whole of the NHS in Lincolnshire continues to face significant demand on its services.
“This also involves using community bed capacity for patients who are aren’t ill enough to be in hospital but aren’t well enough to be discharged home. However we still have a high number of very sick patients on our wards with complex health needs.
“A&E remains open as usual but is exceptionally busy.
“We would ask people to only attend A&E with serious or life threatening illnesses and to seek alternative support for on-going problems or minor injuries.
“Those who attend with minor conditions will still be treated, but will have long waits. We urge everyone to think twice before they go to A&E – if it’s not serious or life threatening, you shouldn’t be there.
“Many illnesses can be better treated by visiting your local pharmacy, calling 111, visiting your local GP, or GP out of hours services, or attending a walk in centre or a minor injuries unit.”
The range of alternative services to A&E includes:
Pharmacy
Your local pharmacist can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints, without you having to go to your GP or other healthcare setting.
NHS 111
NHS 111 is a service which makes it easier for you to access NHS services. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and is free when you telephone 111. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but is not a 999 emergency.
GP Out of Hours service
If you need a doctor out of normal hours, dial NHS 111 to contact the GP Out of Hours service.
Walk in centre
Lincoln Walk-in Centre, 63 Monks Road. Lincoln LN2 5HP
Tel: 01522 528153 opening times 8am- 8pm
Grantham Enhanced Out of Hours Service
Kingfisher Suite, Grantham and District Hospital, Grantham NH31 8DG
For booked appointments with the traditional GP Out of Hours Service, dial NHS 111 6.30pm-8am on weekdays or 24hours a day at weekends and Bank Holidays.
For injuries only (cuts, minor burns, sprains and suspected fractures, bites and stings), walk in without an appointment 6.30pm-11.30pm seven days a week.
Minor injury units
Sleaford Medical Group, 47 Boston Road, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7HD
Tel: 01529 419100 opening times 8am – 8pm weekdays, 8am – 6pm weekends
The City Care Centre, Thorpe Road, Peterborough PE3 6DB.
Tel: 01733 293800 opening times 8am-8pm
Newark minor injury unit and urgent care centre
Newark Hospital, Boundary Road , Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 4DE
Tel: 01636 681681 opening times
John Coupland Hospital, Ropery Road, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2TJ.
Tel: 01427 816 502, open seven days: 8am – 8pm
Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, PE11 3DT
Tel: 01775 652000 , open seven days: 8am – 6pm
Urgent Care Centres
Sleaford Medical Group, 47 Boston Road, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7HD
Tel: 01529 419100 opening times 6.30pm – 8pm weekdays, 8am – 6pm weekends
Skegness Hospital, Dorothy Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 2BS
Tel: 01754 613504
Open: 24 hours, seven days a week (including Christmas Day and Bank Holidays)
County Hospital, High Holme Road, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0EU
Tel: 01507 600100 ext 1223
Open: 24 hours, seven days a week (including Christmas Day and Bank Holidays)
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
We have arrested a 34-year-old woman on suspicion of attempted murder following an altercation which has left a man with multiple wounds requiring hospital treatment.
Officers were called to reports that a man had suffered what were described as stab wounds at an address in Kenner Close, Lincoln. The exact cause of the wounds is under investigation.
On arrival, officers found a man in his 60’s with significant injuries to the neck and face area. He received treatment at the scene and is now being treated in hospital. His condition is described as life-threatening.
The call came in at 12.49pm today (Sunday 7 August). Acting on intelligence, officers arrested a suspect eight minutes later. She remains in police custody.
We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident, and we would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances and allow officers the time to investigate this thoroughly.
Specially trained investigators, response officers and forensic investigators will remain on the scene for at least the next 24 hours while they carry out initial enquiries.
We would like to appeal to anyone who may have information about the incident to get in touch and help us piece together what has happened. Any piece of information, no matter how big or small, may prove crucial.
If you can help, there are a number of ways to get in touch:
• You can call us on 101 quoting incident number 214 of 7 August.
• You can email: [email protected] adding incident number 214 of 7 August in the subject line.
• If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or you can give information anonymously online
We are investigating following a house fire where a man has sadly died.
Officers were called to the incident in Farrow Road, Spalding, at 1.03am today (7 August) following reports of what was described as an explosion. The property has suffered 100% damage.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services and members of the public who offered assistance, a man in his 50’s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
His next of kin have been informed.
Another man who is thought to have been passing by the property and offered his help suffered burn injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and we are keeping an open mind as experts from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service investigate today. We would encourage people not to speculate while we investigate the cause.
Officers will remain in the area for the next few days carrying out enquiries.
Anyone who saw or heard anything, or captured the incident on doorbell camera or dashcam is asked to contact us. There are a number of ways to get in touch:
You can call us on 101 quoting incident number 43 of 7 August.
You can email: [email protected] incident number 43 of 7 August in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or you can give information anonymously online
Whatsapp
