The Newcastle public will be able to share there experiences of urgent care in the city at a series of public consultation events this June.
This comes as the city's NHS leaders look to plan how to deliver services in the coming years, and with the Westgate Road walk-in urgent treatment centre (UTC) having been closed since November last year. This is because, health bosses report, there are not enough GPs or nurse practitioners to keep it running.
The Westgate Road centre will be shut until at least September, but there are fears for its long-term future. Now, as NHS leaders look to plan what services could look like in coming years, six community events will take place to hear public views on urgent care - which is defined as "when you suddenly become unwell and need to see a health professional the same day, but it is not an emergency or immediately life threatening".
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The NHS wants to hear opinions - whether positive or negative - about the urgent care options available in the city. While the Westgate Road unit is closed, there are open UTCs in Ponteland Road, Cowgate and Molineux Street, Byker. Further urgent care support comes from the NHS 111 service, GP practices and pharmacies.
There is also the minor injuries unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). Since February when the NHS's commissioning team first launched its consultation, it said 1,200 people had been in touch. Now bosses hope people will attend the events and share their thoughts.
Joe Corrigan, Newcastle director for NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "We all rely on urgent care, and this is a great chance to meet the people who plan our local services to share your experiences and ask questions. We've already heard from over 1200 people – both patients and NHS staff. Now we want to take a closer look at how people use urgent care and what is important to you.
"We're working right across the region to ensure that people have access to high quality healthcare, no matter where they live. Hearing people's views first-hand is a big help to us in planning services for the future."
The events scheduled are at:
- Brunswick Methodist Church NE1 7BJ, Wednesday 14 June 1.30 – 3.30pm
- Walker Activity Dome NE6 3BR, Saturday 17 June 10.30am – 12.30pm
- Newcastle City Library NE1 8AX, Monday 19 June 1.30 – 3.30pm
- Riverside Community Health Project NE4 8XS, Wednesday 21 June 6 – 8pm
- Online on Friday 16 June 1.30 – 3.30pm
- Online on Tuesday 20 June 2 – 4pm
The events will be led by ICB staff, who will be joined by counterparts from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Healthwatch Newcastle.
To book a place, visit book your place online or visit northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk and search for "urgent care'". If you can't make it, you can still send your comments or questions to necsu.icb.involvement@nhs.net.
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