Figures show that 97.1% of Newark’s Urgent Care Centre patients were treated within four hours in December
Winter illnesses started early in 2019, but figures show that Newark Hospital has coped better than the national average.
Nationally, NHS hospital trusts aim for 95% of patients admitted to A&E to be seen within four hours, but this number fell to just 79% across the country over the festive season.
But figures show that 97.1% of patients admitted to Newark’s Urgent Care Centre in December 2019 were seen within four hours.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust was ranked seventh in the NHS for trusts with adult Type 1 Emergency Departments, with 87.1% of patients seen within four hours across Newark, King’s Mill and Mansfield Community Hospital.
Assistant chief operating officer of Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, Ant Rosevear, said that this winter had been one of the busiest the trust had seen so far, mostly due to flu season seemingly beginning six weeks earlier than predicted.
“It’s been a very challenging winter, but staff are responding really well here at Newark and King’s Mill,” he said.
“Our highest priority is to ensure the safety of our emergency patients and those patients having a prolonged stay.”
To cope with the demand in patients, Newark Hospital increased the number of beds on the Sconce Ward from 24 to 32, as part of the winter plan.
Chief operating officer for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Simon Barton, said: “Sherwood Forest Hospitals has put a robust winter plan in place this year, which provides more beds and staff into wards and our Emergency Department to support growing emergency demand to ensure our patients get safely, timely access to care.
“December has been a very busy month, but with the dedication, resilience and flexibility of our staff, we are working hard to make sure our patients are kept safe and aren’t delayed.
“We would continue to urge patients to use all available alternatives unless they have a life-threatening emergency, leaving the emergency department able to treat the very sickest patients in a timely way.”
You may also like...
Nottinghamshire Police's specialist mental health team to feature in Channel 4 documentary
