Hospitals to launch 'much-needed' night service

A Hospital at Night project will launch on 8 July at Peterborough City Hospital

An NHS trust is to launch a dedicated out-of-hours service of clinicians and nurses to boost hospital care throughout the night.

North West Anglia Foundation NHS Trust (NWAFT), which runs Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke, and Stamford and Rutland hospitals will launch the Hospital at Night project on 8 July.

The extended service will see more senior clinicians on shift covering nights, weekends and bank holidays to enhance patient safety, quality of care and patient experience.

NWAFT Chief nurse Laura Stent, speaking at a recent Healthwatch meeting, described the new system as a "huge investment" for the trust.

The project has started to be implemented across other NHS Trusts.

The NWAFT team will involve 19 members of staff, including skilled nurses, doctors and clinical support workers, based at both Peterborough City and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals - and acting as a single point of contact for all wards across the trust.

"I am really proud of this project and looking forward to it," Ms Stent added.

A spokesperson for the trust said more information on the initiative - which is in its soft launch stage, will be handed out after the election period.

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