The Accident and Emergency department at Grantham Hospital will be better than ever under new proposals, say health bosses.
As well as closing Grantham’s Midwife Led Maternity Unit NHS Lincolnshire is planning to safeguard the future of the Accident and Emergency department whilst improving the service on offer by teaming it up with the GP Out of Hours Service.
The move will lead to the creation of an “A&E Care Centre” which will include a GP working from Accident and Emergency.
Dr David Baker, a GP at Vine Street Surgery in Grantham said: “The Accident and Emergency department at Grantham Hospital has over 35,000 patients every year.
“That unit has been under threat for 20 to 25 years - the whole time I have been here but it is really important to us that we maintain those services that are absolutely essential for the people of Grantham.”
Dr Baker believes securing the future of Accident and Emergency at Grantham Hospital will help attract the best staff possible.
He said: “We have had so much trouble attracting permanent staff and when you have locum staff it effects the quality.
“This will hopefully future-proof Accident and Emergency for the next 10 to 20 years and help attract quality permanent staff in the future.”
Allan Kitt is the Accountable Officer for South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group. He is responsible for buying health services for South Lincolnshire.
Mr Kitt said: “Grantham is moving with the times while some other hospitals are struggling to adapt to the 21st Century.”
FOR MORE ON THE FUTURE OF GRANTHAM HOSPITAL SEE THIS FRIDAY’S GRANTHAM JOURNAL.