In its weekly voxpop, the Advertiser heard people’s thoughts on the idea of reinstating Newark Hospital’s A&E — shall it return or is it not needed?
At the beginning of this month, we reported on a petition that has been created by Eli Wood, of Balderton, to bring back the Accident and Emergency department that closed down in 2011.
He claimed that having to travel to the nearest hospital with an A&E, Kings Mill Hospital, could ‘make a difference between life and death’ as it is located over 20 miles away.
Joanna and Lloyd Doel. Photo by Iliffe Media
Following a strong online response to the article, we decided to go out into the streets of Newark to hear what people think about it.
Joan Cullen said: “If you live in Newark, Balderton or any of the surrounding areas, it is just handy to have an A&E, we don’t want to be going to Kings Mill.
“Just having the urgent treatment centre and it not even being 24 hours is not good at all, we definitely need an A&E.”
The vast majority of people the Advertiser spoke to agreed that Newark is a growing town, with more housing, more shops and facilities, and not having an A&E at the hospital does not align with the town’s growing needs.
Joanna and Lloyd Doel agreed that there is a need in the town for an A&E department .
Martin Briggs shared his experiences of using the hospital recently when his mother-in-law fell ill and said while they that looked after very well, it was very busy.”
He said: “Given the size of the town and the district stretching out towards Ollerton and to the South and East and West of Newark, I think we should have an A&E.
“Although I do appreciate that on a national scale, finances are extremely tight.”
Since the A&E closed in the town, it was replaced with a 24-hour urgent treatment centre until the Covid-19 pandemic, when opening hours were reduced.
Diane Airfield agreed that Newark residents need access to a closer A&E as ‘realistically you never know when you are going to need it’.
Gerald and Diane Airfield. Photo by Iliffe Media.
Over the years, residents battled to try to upgrade the healthcare services in Newark to 24-hour services again, but in 2024, NHS leaders have decided to expand the opening hours.
The Urgent Treatment Centre is currently open seven days a week, between 8am and 10.30pm, with the last patient being admitted at 9.30pm.
Adam Green said that it is a shame for Newark that we don’t have an A&E department anymore.
“I get it that the NHS resources are drained all over the country, but having to travel so far to then have exhausted services elsewhere makes no sense either,” he said.
“Would Newark having an A&E department help release some of the pressure in services if anything?”
Lynn Johnson said: “There is so much down the A1, and if anything happens, you have got nothing at Grantham.
“It is either Lincoln, Kings Mill or Nottingham’s hospital, so we need one in Newark.”
The Advertiser now asks its readers — Do you think Newark Hospital should reinstate its A&E department?