Withernsea’s MP, Graham Stuart, will have the chance to question East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Chief Officer, Jane Hawkard, after it was announced that crisis talks over the town’s under-fire 8 to 8 Centre will take place within the next week.
Graham, who will be joined by South East Holderness Councillors Lyn Healing and David Tucker, wants answers from the CCG and the City Health Care Partnership (CHCP) following concerning reports of conflicting referrals, long waiting times, and a poor quality service for local patients.
Graham secured the meeting in view of a growing number of complaints since the Centre, which was designed to mitigate the closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at the Withernsea Community Hospital, was opened in early April 2018. Patients appear particularly concerned that NHS 111 operators are unable to explain referral decisions and that its tick-box assessment system is not fit for purpose.
These reports have been echoed by local councillors, who welcomed the opportunity to meet Ms Hawkard and CHCP representatives to state clearly the problems being created by the new system.
Ahead of the meeting, Graham said: “I am glad that Jane Hawkard has agreed to meet with local councillors and me to discuss the worrying situation at the Withernsea 8 to 8 Centre. When the service was first announced, it felt like a substantial concession from the CCG and a major victory for the campaign to protect minor injuries cover in Holderness.
“That early promise has not been followed up with the clear and reliable service that local patients deserve. This meeting is a chance to get answers and to start forming a strategy to make sure that the 8 to 8 Centre in Withernsea is working properly and put on the right path for the months and years ahead.”
Cllr Lyn Healing said: “It is welcome that we will now have the opportunity to meet the CCG face-to-face, convey residents’ concerns, and hear from them what they are going to do about it. Local patients currently feel abandoned and it is time for the CCG to start making changes and demonstrate to us that the Withernsea 8 to 8 is a viable working clinic, that the NHS 111 line will be closely monitored and, if need be, change the care algorithm so residents with minor injuries do receive treatment at the 8 to 8 Centre.”
