Plans to restore services to Grantham hospital to pre-COVID levels – including the loss of 24/7 urgent care from June – have been given the go ahead.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust’s board voted to approve its timeline at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday.
Grantham was turned into a COVID-free site in June 2020 at the height of the first wave, with changes seeing several services diverted to other hospitals, some cancelled altogether. It also saw the hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre open 24/7.
ULHT’s Chief Executive Andrew Morgan said: “Onthewhole,Ithinkmostpeoplewouldagreethatthosechangeshavebeenasuccess.”
He added: “Thearrangementshavehadapositiveimpactonpatientsandalongsidethatgreenprovisionwehavehad the24/7UTCaswell.”
However, bosses now say that a reduction in numbers and emergency levels, an increase in vaccines and learning experiences mean some plans could now start to be restored.
A report before board members said new approaches to infection control had been developed, while the risk for non-COVID patients had increased.
They said there had been a lack of evidence supporting the continuation of the current approach.
As part of the plans:
From the start of April, elective and low risk pathways would be restored, supported by two additional operating theatres, while wards 1 and 2 would remain surgical wards. Endoscopy and MRI services will remain largely unaltered as will access to the hospice. Some chemotherapy day services will also be kept on site.
From April 6, sexual health services, some outpatient and community mental health services, children’s and women’s outpatients and dental services run by NHS trusts will return. The Marie Curie offices will also be restored.
From April 19, outpatient, diagnostic and therapy services will return with “very limited need for any interaction with the other patient services on site”. Outpatient provision will be created including provision for virtual/non face-to-face consultation. A dedicated medical and surgical rehabilitation ward is also planned for ward 6.
Finally, from June 30, emergency care services changed again to include daytime (previously 8am to 6.30pm) A&E, a same-day emergency care unit, an emergency admissions unit, access to diagnostic services and integrated support from community teams. An enhanced out-of-hours primary care service will be provided at the front of the hospital including walk-in services until 10pm and a booked service through the night.
The report before board members said response to the final proposal had been “mixed” with some feeling the 24/7 UTC should remain, while others said it should return to a full A&E.
However, Simon Evans, Chief Operating Officer said: “What this paper is not doing is seeking to make any permanent changes to [the pre-June 2020] model, it is literally just returning back to the position at that point, so we aren’t seeking to make any permanent changes to the model as part of that.”
Members were told that leaving the final changes to June would allow time to identify staff to fill rotas and ensure safety measures were in place.
They were told bosses were confident staff would be employed in that time.
Campaigners have previously said the move has sparked “grave concerns” and left unanswered questions. The trust has repeatedly said the changes are not related to separate, ongoing discussions about longer term Acute Service Review (ASR) proposals.
“TheacuteservicesreviewthatourCCGcolleagueswillhopefullyconsultoninafewmonthstime,isthemomentwhenthelongertermpositionneedstobetakenintoaccountandthatwillbeaconsultationthatourCCGcolleagues,bothproduceandleadupon,” said Mr Morgan.
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There have been 88 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and one COVID-related death on Monday as restrictions eased across the UK as part of the PM’s roadmap out of lockdown.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on April 12 recorded 58 new cases in Lincolnshire, 16 in North East Lincolnshire and 14 in North Lincolnshire.
On Monday, one death was recorded in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. This figure includes deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported no changes to the hospital death figures across the region, which still stands at 1,300 from a week ago.
Nationally, cases increased by 3,568 to 4,373,343, while deaths rose by 13 to 127,100.
In local news, North Kesteven has the most over 50s vaccinated with the first dose of a COVID-19 jab in Lincolnshire, whereas Boston has the least.
However, South Kesteven has the most 18 to 49 year olds vaccinated in Greater Lincolnshire with Lincoln having the least, according to research by Sky News.
There were 398 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and 10 COVID-related deaths last week — a 43% drop in cases and 23% fewer deaths compared to the previous week.
Hundreds of people queued outside Debenhams and at several barbers and salons in the city as Lincoln, and the rest of England, entered the next stage of the roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown on Monday, April 12. The pubs and bars had a good day too.
The latest rules allow for the retail sector to fully reopen its doors for customers again, two weeks after the previous lockdown easing on March 29 which resumed outdoor socialising for up to six people – see the list of rules here.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, April 12
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,722 cases (up 88)
40,909 in Lincolnshire (up 58)
9,226 in North Lincolnshire (up 14)
8,587 in North East Lincolnshire (up 16)
2,182 deaths (up one)
1,610 from Lincolnshire (up one)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,300 hospital deaths (no change)
808 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,373,343 UK cases, 127,100 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.
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