An urgent council meeting to discuss the downgrade of Grantham A&E has been called.
The hospital site will become a 24-hour urgent treatment centre which would have 70 fewer acute care beds and no acute stroke care.
The decision by Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been criticised by campaigners who insist Grantham deserves a full A&E department.
South Kesteven District Councillor Charmaine Morgan, who called the meeting, hopes the council will send a unanimous message that the changes should be reconsidered, and that the Secretary of State for Health will intervene.
“The CCG argued that the hospital hasn’t really been an A&E for the last seven years so this isn’t really a downgrade, but that is an absolute insult,” she said.
“It has provided a wide range of services and life-saving treatments. This decision hasn’t been made on a sound basis.
“Even if only two patients a day get sent from Grantham to Lincoln, as the CCG predicts, that is more than 700 a year. Depending on where you live, the journey could be 45 minutes up to an hour and 20 minutes, and these will be the most sick people.
Councillor Charmaine Morgan has called the meeting into the hospital’s future
“We will lose acute beds, consultants and equipment, and elderly residents are likely to be the ones who are most affected.
“I was pleased that when I asked for the extraordinary meeting, several other councillors were right behind me. These concerns go cross-party.
“Hopefully, we will have a unanimous vote to register our protest against this decision. This will empower Lincolnshire County Council’s health scrutiny panel to challenge it and go the the Health Secretary.
“The CCG is trying to treat us like a small catchment area, but the hospital covers thousands of people across Grantham and parts of Sleaford, Newark and Melton Mowbray.”
Councillor Morgan has also written to Grantham MP Gareth Davies asking what could be done to prevent ‘irreversible damage’ happening to the hospitals’ services.
The extraordinary meeting of the full South Kesteven District Council will take place on Tuesday, June 14.
Although the CCG has avoided calling the change a ‘downgrade’, it is described that way in the meeting agenda.
The Urgent Treatment Centre is expected to be fully operational in the next 12 to 18 months.
The decision came as part of a shake-up of Lincolnshire’s health services which the CCG says will offer better care and reduced waiting times for patients.
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 are investigating a hate crime incident in Holbeach.
At around 7 pm on Tuesday (5 July) a male was assaulted by a group of males at Carter’s Park.
The victim, a man in his 20s with learning disabilities, sustained injuries including bruises to his neck and arms, loosened teeth, and a split lip. He was taken to hospital.
It was reported that the male was also sexually assaulted during the incident. The group of males allegedly took their trousers off and rubbed their bottoms on the victim.
There will be increased patrols in the area over the next couple of days as officers progress enquiries into the incident. We are also appealing for witnesses and any other information that can help in our investigation.
If you can help, please get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 273 of 6 July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 273 of 6 July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
Executive board member for finance, Councillor Richard Fry said the build was an “investment to save project”.
The council expects a tourism surge once works to replace the Sutton on Sea Colonnade with a new build are completed, and combined with improvements taking place elsewhere in the district – including the new Coastal Pathway which links the observatory to Huttoft Boat Shed and other locations along the beachfront.
It is hoped the Broadway works will create an extra 30 spaces – from 120-150 – and will bring in around £60,000 a year extra revenue to the council.
“This investment will increase off-street parking capacity and income to Sutton on sea in future years, support and complement the sheduled towns fund investment plan project of Sutton on Sea colonnade redevelopment, ensure a greater sense of arrival, welcome, and civic pride and support adjacent High Street businesses.”
Following the meeting, Councillor Adrian Benjamin, who represents the Coastal Community Team, said he was glad it had been approved.
“At the moment the field is indeed turfed… but it is part mud, part puddles, and part scuffed up tarmac. Often in the summer cars park there only later to find themselves blocked in.”
He said there could be materials other than tarmac used to resurface the ground including “grasscrete”, but that there were also plans to include picnic areas, EV charging points and signage.
“This will be a major step towards the realization of the project due to start adjacent to this site, replacing the now demolished colonnade with an imaginative new seascape that will enshrine our resort’s past while bringing exciting new dimensions to life along our coast,” he said
Whatsapp
