THE NHS trust that manages Newark Hospital has decided against overnight closures of its Urgent Treatment Centre after Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust said it had listened to the views of the public.

THE NHS trust that manages Newark Hospital has decided against overnight closures of its Urgent Treatment Centre.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust said it had listened to the views of the public in reaching its decision.

Some elective surgeries could also be returning to the hospital, with a formal decision to be taken after June.

The trust updated the public on its latest position at a meeting organised by the Say Yes to Newark Hospital campaign.

It had been feared that a switch from an urgent care centre to urgent treatment centre would lead to an overnight closure at the hospital.

Richard Mitchell, chief executive of the trust, said: “We have listened to the views of the public and were not changing overnight provision.

"I think we have a great urgent and emergency care service at Newark and by working more closely with GPs we believe we can improve it further."

The secretary of the Say Yes to Newark Hospital group, Paul Baggaley, said: "I'm pleased to hear this news coming out of our hospitals and we've got a bright future to look forward to.

"Newark has got huge potential that can benefit not only the community, but the trust too."

The trust could reintroduce elective orthopaedic surgeries back to Newark ­— things like knee, hip and ankle surgery.

On surgeries, Mr Baggaley said: "The importance of this development means that increased surgery will mean increased cover and will facilitate better utilisation of the hospital has a whole.

"This is really good news for Newark Hospital and really good news for Newark.

"It also goes some way to meeting our objectives."