Burnley General Hospital can deal with walk-in' emergencies
PATIENTS from Burnley and Pendle are still travelling to Blackburn with minor injuries and illnesses, surveys suggest.
A study into the use of Urgent Care Centres since the Meeting Patients' Needs hospital shake-up in November has shown many believe there are no facilities for "walk-in" emerg-ency treatment at Burnley.
Figures from the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust's study have not yet been fully analysed, but health bosses said early indications showed "significant" numbers of people driving to the Urgent Care Centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, despite being nearer the same facility at Burnley General Hospital.
The Burnley hospital can no longer deal with "blue-light" emergencies, where a patient is taken to hospital by ambulance, but still caters for the walking wounded at its Urgent Care Centre, on the same site as its former A and E.
If a patient is seriously ill or injured, an ambulance should be called, which will take the person to Blackburn.
Health chiefs said they were concerned that the public had "misunderstood" the Meeting Patients' Needs changeover, and did not know what was available locally.
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They are now doing more in-depth sampling to give more accurate data on where patients are going and how much they know about the facilities available, alongside the "Take Care" publicity cam-paign to increase awareness.
Trust Chief Executive David Peat said: "The early indications of Burnley and Pendle people travelling over to use Blackburn Urgent Care facilities needlessly is worrying. We must get the message across that though blue light cases go to the new emergency facilities at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, more than 80 per cent of matters can be dealt with in Burnley.
"We need to do more research on patient journeys and their perceptions about what is available and where.
"I am assured that this work is under way but I welcome the call for a practical and positive approach from those who represent the public and their views, with us all working together to help residents to use facilities properly."
He added: "We need to remind people about what NHS services are available, and where and how the people of this area can best make use of them, particularly those who live in Burnley and Pendle."
Ah ... here we are ... our plans haven't worked so blame the patients.
This story empitomises much that is wrong with what some have labelled new public sector management (NPSM).
The sort of dintinction that managers expect patients to make sound great when discussed in a working party with a plentiful supply of coffee and biscuits but collapse totally when put into the 'market' place.
If I'm faced with a situation where I must go to hospital why would I go the UCC at Burnley when I might need then to be sent to Balckburn? Best cut out the 'middle-men' so-to-speak and go direct to a fully-fledged A&E. It might be the difference between life and death - mine or someone dear to me.
This is how the human mind works in a crisis - very different, of course, from how the NPSM's think our minds should work when they discussed it in the wood panelled, comfy chairs and plush carpets of the NHS Trust headquarters.
Ah ... here we are ... our plans haven't worked so blame the patients.
This story empitomises much that is wrong with what some have labelled new public sector management (NPSM).
The sort of dintinction that managers expect patients to make sound great when discussed in a working party with a plentiful supply of coffee and biscuits but collapse totally when put into the 'market' place.
If I'm faced with a situation where I must go to hospital why would I go the UCC at Burnley when I might need then to be sent to Balckburn? Best cut out the 'middle-men' so-to-speak and go direct to a fully-fledged A&E. It might be the difference between life and death - mine or someone dear to me.
This is how the human mind works in a crisis - very different, of course, from how the NPSM's think our minds should work when they discussed it in the wood panelled, comfy chairs and plush carpets of the NHS Trust headquarters.
Posted by: Pendlereader, Pendle on 10:11am Tue 25 Mar 08
[quote]"health bosses said early indications showed "significant" numbers of people driving to the Urgent Care Centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, despite being nearer the same facility at Burnley General Hospital"[/quote]
patients might be being 'driven' to the blackburn hospital but that's because they feel it is an EMERGENCY!
this badly implemented plan states [bold]patients with 'less serious' illnesses or injuries should attend their nearest urgent care centre[/bold] .
[bold]Less serious than what? Patients are NOT doctors![/bold] Kevin of Colne is spot on, the blackburn hospital is overstretched and the trust board are now blaming this increase of patients at blackburn on patients 'ignorence' of what services are available.
People in Burnley and Pendle don't need reminding what NHS 'services' are available to them, they were ROBBED of their vital emergency services and the trust board's plans didn't account for this an that's why we are seeing this shameful situation.
"health bosses said early indications showed "significant" numbers of people driving to the Urgent Care Centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, despite being nearer the same facility at Burnley General Hospital"
patients might be being 'driven' to the blackburn hospital but that's because they feel it is an EMERGENCY!
this badly implemented plan states patients with 'less serious' illnesses or injuries should attend their nearest urgent care centre .
Less serious than what? Patients are NOT doctors! Kevin of Colne is spot on, the blackburn hospital is overstretched and the trust board are now blaming this increase of patients at blackburn on patients 'ignorence' of what services are available.
People in Burnley and Pendle don't need reminding what NHS 'services' are available to them, they were ROBBED of their vital emergency services and the trust board's plans didn't account for this an that's why we are seeing this shameful situation.
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