A petition has been created to reinstate Newark Hospital’s A&E after its creator claimed its opening hours could ‘make a difference between life and death’.
Eli Wood, of Balderton, shared his concerns on the current state of healthcare accessibility in Newark through a Change.org petition.
Newark’s A&E department closed down in 2011 and was replaced with a 24-hour urgent treatment centre until the Covid-19 pandemic, when opening hours were reduced.
Eli Wood next to Newark Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre sign. Photo supplied.
Since then, residents have been battling for years 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.
However Eli, an operations manager for events medical company Shires Medical Services Ltd, doesn’t believe the expansion is enough for Newark’s growing population.
Despite not having been impacted directly by the lack of an A&E in Newark, he and his colleagues are responsible for supporting families and getting them to the hospital where their loved one has been taken.
He said: “This influx of new residents has put unprecedented strain on our existing medical facilities, which are simply not equipped to handle the burgeoning demand.
“The local community is growing at an expeditious rate, yet our health infrastructure is lagging far behind, creating a serious gap in essential healthcare services.
“The decision to downgrade Newark Hospital has left our community vulnerable and underserved.”
Since the closure of the A&E, Kings Mill Hospital, which is over 20 miles away, has the nearest A&E department.
“Individuals in urgent need of medical attention face potentially dangerous delays that could mean the difference between life and death,” added Eli.
The petition, calling upon Nottinghamshire County Council and healthcare authorities to ‘urgently’ review and reconsider their decision regarding Newark Hospital.
It is hoped the petition will reach 10,000 signatures so that it can be reviewed in Parliament.
People can sign the petition at https://c.org/wmzMq4cfzN.
“By reinstating it as a full-fledged A&E department, the local community will regain a vital healthcare service that meets its current and future needs,” added Eli.
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB has been approached for a comment on the petition.
Following the announcement of the urgent treatment centre expansion time in March 2024, Victoria McGregor-Riley, commissioning delivery director of NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said:
“Traffic data showed that over night the urgent treatment centre was only received one to two patients compared to four to 6 during the day, so making the decision to move staff from nights to day means that we offer a better quality service during the day.
“We continue to be challenged around staffing, but the new times will allow staff to work more flexibly and we will continue to work with them to provide a good resilient service.
“We’re confident that a 14.5-hour service will better serve the community, providing sustainable, high-quality healthcare in and around Newark.”