UHNM has robust emergency planning procedures in place and certain elements of our plans to respond to the Coronavirus are now being enacted to ensure NHS resources are directed where they are needed.
Steps have been taken to ensure UHNM can prioritise its sickest patients and protect staff and emergency services.
These include:
- From 8am on Monday 30 March the Emergency Department at Royal Stoke University Hospital will no longer treat minor injuries in adults or children in order to free up vital resources.
- During this time Haywood Hospital’s Walk-in Centre will be able to provide these essential services to the local community between 7am-9.30pm every day. Orthopaedic surgeons and emergency nurse practitioners from Royal Stoke will join the Haywood Walk-in Centre team to provide an enhanced service.
- Minor injuries at County Hospital, Stafford will be seen at the fracture clinic between 9am and 6pm. Again, this service will be run by orthopaedic surgeons and emergency nurse practitioners. Outside of these hours you may be asked to return the following day during those hours.
- Patients who have an eye emergency problem are also being asked not to attend hospital straight away and instead call a telephone number and speak to a specialist. The Emergency Eye Clinic will be available on 01782 674300 Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 12 noon.
All other emergency services at Royal Stoke, including the Major Trauma Service and the Children’s Emergency Department (ages 0 to 15) and County Hospital will be operating as normal for major injury and illness.
Dr Ann-Marie Morris, UHNM Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care, said: “We are asking the public to consider if they are in need of emergency care and to make an informed choice on attendance. Patients who attend Royal Stoke with a minor injury will be re-directed to Haywood Hospital’s Walk-in Centre and those attending with minor injuries at County Hospital will be directed to the fracture clinic.”
“These changes are vital so that we can focus on prioritising care to our sickest patients while also keeping patients safe and free from risk while in the Emergency Departments.
“I would appeal to local communities to follow the national advice to stay at home and if you have a high temperature or a new cough, do not come to hospital. If you feel your symptoms are getting worse call your GP or use the online 111 service.”
Jennie Collier, Managing Director of Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, which includes Haywood Hospital, said: “In such unprecedented times for the NHS, it’s critical that we work together to maintain the safety of patients, the public and our staff.
“Haywood Hospital’s Walk-in Centre can treat a wide range of minor conditions and injuries. I would reinforce national guidance in relation to social distancing should you attend the Walk-in Centre and not to come to hospital if you or someone who live with is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.”