Overnight urgent care services to reopen at Louth and Skegness hospitals

Overnight urgent care services which were temporarily paused due to the demands of the coronavirus pandemic will reopen at Louth and Skegness hospitals from Thursday (1 April) next week.

Although both centres have been closed overnight between 10pm and 8am since March last year, patients have still been able to get appropriate medical help using the NHS 111 service available over the phone, online or by using the app.

Tracy Pilcher, deputy chief executive of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust and director of nursing, allied health professionals and operations said: “Our clinical team would like to thank local residents for their patience and support during the temporary closure of the overnight urgent care services at Louth and Skegness hospitals.

“The temporary pause meant that we were able to transfer our staff to support local health care services including our community nursing teams and our inpatient wards in the face of unprecedented demand for our services brought about by the pandemic.

“During the temporary overnight closure, it’s been very positive to see the way people have adapted to using NHS 111 to get appropriate help and advice for any urgent medical condition. Using NHS 111 offers significant benefits for our patients including the convenience of bookable appointments at the Louth and Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres as well as video or telephone consultations with a clinician.”

NHS 111 is available 24/7 and all calls from a landline or mobile are free of charge. The NHS 111 service is also available online at 111.NHS.uk or use the NHS 111 app.

NHS 111 offers a wide range of services and medical help and advice including:

• bookable appointments at the Louth and Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres
• arranging a prescription for collection at a local pharmacy
• providing a telephone or video consultation with a local experienced clinician
• signposting to other services including emergency dentists, late opening pharmacies for medical advice and community nurses
• arranging home visits where appropriate
• general medical help and support.

Patients can walk into the Louth or Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres but will be assessed and, depending on their condition, will either be given an appointment to return later in the day or asked to wait to be seen.

Urgent treatment centres can treat a range of conditions which are not critical or life threatening. These include:

• sprains and strains
• suspected broken limbs
• minor head injuries
• cuts and grazes
• skin infection and rashes
• bites and stings
• minor eye problems
• coughs and colds
• feverish illness in adults and children
• abdominal pain
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• minor scalds and burns
• emergency contraception.

In an emergency situation, patients should always dial 999.