CCG decides minor injury units to be closed and replaced

East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s governing body also approved plans to create a community and rehabilitation centre but close 24 community hospital beds, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The CCG’s decisions were in line with recommendations from a report published last week, which was based on the results of a 12 week consultation on urgent care in the region.

The governing body agreed to:

• expand the minor injuries units at Beverley, Bridlington and Goole hospitals into three urgent care centres;
• close the MIUs at Driffield, Withernsea and Hornsea;
• create an integrated community and intensive rehabilitation centre at East Riding Community Hospital in Beverley;
• the new unit will be supported by 15 “time to think” beds in Bridlington and South Holderness; and
• 24 community hospital beds at Bridlington and Withernsea hospitals will close.

The MIU at East Riding Community Hospital in Beverley is run by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, Bridlington Hospital by City Health Care Partnership CIC, and Goole District Hospital by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust.

From next month, all community services will be run by City Health Care Partnership, including the MIUs and new urgent care centres when they become operational.

The urgent care centres all have longer opening times than the MIUs, operating for 16 hours every day, with x-ray facilities available during those hours.

Patients will also be able to book same-day urgent care appointments for low level minor injuries at Driffield and Withernsea hospitals through NHS 111 between 8am to 8pm.

During the transition period to the new model there will be an extra 10 “time to think” beds opened in Bridlington and South Holderness.

The changes are expected to be implemented over the next 6-9 months.

The CCG stressed the reconfiguration was not about saving money but the pre-consultation business case said the health economy needs to save £200m in the next five years.

While East Riding of Yorkshire currently spends £3.2m on minor injuries a year, the costs of the new urgent care centres are estimated at £2.9m-£3.3m

The CCG said the three centres will offer consistent services, while the new rehabilitation centre and beds will support earlier discharges from acute hospitals.

CCG chief officer Jane Hawkard said: “We have listened to what people have said during our consultation and take very seriously our responsibility to consider the issues raised by our population alongside local health need.

“This is why we are including a range of enhancements to our original proposals.”