Temporary local NHS service changes to focus on COVID-19
The changes are necessary to make the best use of clinical teams and other health staff by basing them at fewer locations during the outbreak. By doing this, clinical teams can continue to provide services safely for patients and lower the risk of infection by reducing patient movement across services.
The changes also reflect fewer face to face consultations between patients and health staff currently taking place as a precaution against COVID-19 (coronavirus).
The changes are temporary, will be regularly reviewed and local people will be kept informed of developments. The changes are:
Extended access to primary care appointments / Urgent Care Centres
GP practices have already introduced their own telephone triage systems and most patients are calling NHS 111 when they need urgent care. Since 9 March the number of patients seen at urgent care sites across the system has reduced by around three quarters. With immediate effect, the following locations only will be open for the provision of urgent care services:
Loughborough Urgent Care Centre
- 24 hours a day 7 days a week
Oadby Urgent Care Centre
- Saturday-Sunday: 08:00-20:00
- Monday-Friday: 08:00-21:00
Merlyn Vaz Hub (appointment only)
- Monday-Sunday: 08:00-20:00
Westcotes Healthcare Hub (appointment only)
- Monday-Sunday: 08:00-20:00
The following services will be suspended: the hubs at Enderby, Melton Mowbray, Lutterworth, Oakham, Market Harborough, Coalville, Hinckley, Belgrave (Brandon Street) and Saffron Lane.
GP practice, pharmacy and NHS 111 online and telephone services will be available as normal.
This may mean more travel for some people to be seen. However, reducing the number of sites that urgent care centres and primary care hubs are operating from during the coronavirus pandemic will allow them to continue to provide these services for patients while ensuring they can also respond to increased demand, in other local NHS services.
Corby Urgent Care Centre is open as usual 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. You are asked to go in alone if possible and you will be fully screened on arrival.
The Minor Injuries Unit at Stamford Hospital has been temporarily closed to enable staff to relocate to Peterborough City Hospital to support the Covid-19 response.
Daytime Minor Injuries service at Rutland Memorial Hospital in Oakham continues to be available but with new triage procedures to keep people safe.
All patients with urgent but not life-threatening care needs are encouraged to use NHS 111 online. You can phone NHS 111 if you do not have online access but please be aware that in some cases patients are experiencing long waits to speak to a call handler.
