Opening hours review for urgent treatment centres

The public consultation runs until 16 November

People are being asked for their views on the opening times of two hospital urgent treatment centres (UTC).

The units at Goole and Bridlington had their hours reduced to 07:00 to 20:00 in April 2022.

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said this was due to "workforce pressures and low evening usage".

The board is now asking for feedback on plans to make the reduced opening hours permanent.

Simon Cox from the ICB said the NHS was "committed to providing urgent treatment options in Goole and Bridlington that meet the needs of patients".

The reduced opening hours had "enabled us to make the best use of expert clinical teams, whilst maintaining an effective service".

"If the temporary changes to the UTC opening hours are to be made permanent, it will help us to maintain focus on peak times of demand, allowing our teams to deliver safe, effective care for everyone who comes through our doors," he added.

The ICB said a recent review of UTC usage found that the busiest times were between 08:00 -11:00 and peak again at 16:00.

The consultation runs until 16 November and a decision on the opening times will be made later this year.

In recent months, campaigners have staged a series of protests calling for wider services to be maintained at Goole hospital.

The NHS has said there are no plans to close the hospital, but it wants to "make the best use of the hospital space, staff skills and get the most out of the funding we have, to deliver the best care possible".

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