Views urged from public on Grantham Hospital's minor injuries service

People are being urged to give their views as part of a consultation on the minor injuries service at Grantham Hospital.

The service is being reviewed by South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group which says that it is underused.

John Turner, chief officer of the CCG, said: "Following the temporary closure overnight of Grantham A&E in August 2016, South West Lincolnshire CCG, in conjunction with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, looked at what could be put in place locally to support patients and in September 2016 introduced a minor injuries nurse between 6.30pm and 11.30pm to test demand on a trial basis.

"Over the last year the minor injuries service has on average seen five patients a month, some of whom could have been treated via the Out of Hours GP, at a total cost of £130,000. As local commissioners, we have a responsibility to spend public money effectively and, having reviewed the minor injuries service and the patients it has seen, the trial does not appear to have been successful.

"We are keen to hear the views of local people about the minor injuries service and have today, Thursday, May 31, launched a survey available via the CCG’s website.

"The survey will run for four weeks until June 28 and will ask for peoples’ views on the minor injuries service. We will then consider feedback from the survey and will make a decision."

Mr Turner said there are a range of alternative services and sources of information available for patients, including a minor injuries service at Sleaford Medical Group (available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm) and the Urgent Care Unit at Sleaford Medical Group (available Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm). In addition, NHS 111 offers advice in non-emergency situations and can be used to access the Out of Hours GP service.

To see the survey go to http://southwestlincolnshireccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-surveys-and-consultations