Board approves 'temporary' downgrade of Grantham A&E

There will be anger and disappointment across Grantham today (Thursday) as a "temporary" downgrade of the A&E at Grantham Hospital has been given the green light.

The board of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) has this morning approved a plan to turn the A&E department into an urgent treatment centre from June 22.

The trust says this is a "temporary" measure which would be in place until at least March 31, 2021.

However, campaigners and politicians have raised concerns that the move is not intended as temporary and have accused trust bosses of using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to downgrade the unit.

The trust says it will increase the number of elective patients at Grantham hospital, including the transfer of chemotherapy, cancer surgery and other surgery from across Lincolnshire.

Earlier this week, a trust spokesperson said: "We are recommending the temporary creation of a largely Covid-19 free Green site at Grantham and District Hospital for this next phase of the pandemic. This would mean an increase in elective patients at Grantham hospital, including transfer of chemotherapy, cancer surgery and other surgery from across Lincolnshire.

"To support this, all patients must have a known Covid-19 status on admission to any ward on that site. Therefore, we would need to temporarily change the urgent care offer at the hospital from an A&E, open 8am to 6.30pm, to a 24/7 walk-in Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and transfer unplanned admissions to our other hospitals. This is necessary to create isolated facilities and help us monitor and control the risk of infection.

"We believe these temporary changes are the right approach to manage the pandemic in a way that best protects our patients and staff whilst delivering key services."

More to follow.