Grantham Hospital: Date set for restoration of 24-hour urgent care

The 24-hour unit will replace the A&E department, which has only operated in the daytime since 2016

A 24-hour service is to be restored at Grantham Hospital at the end of the month with the opening of a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC).

It replaces the hospital's A&E department, which became a daytime-only service in 2016 as a result of severe staffing challenges.

Since then, work has been under way to expand the service to a 24/7 offer, health bosses said.

The unit will treat people with urgent, but not life-threatening health issues.

The change, which some campaigners labelled a "downgrade", is part of a reorganisation of hospital services across the county.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust chief operating officer Michelle Harris said the unit, which opens on 31 October, was equipped to treat the vast majority of patients.

She said: "Due to the limitations of the hospital's size, staffing and available support services, the A&E at Grantham has only been able to treat a limited number of patients for a number of years, with those suffering from serious trauma, heart attacks, strokes and paediatric emergencies being directed to other hospitals.

"The service offered at the new UTC will be very similar, and will be delivered by a skilled range of doctors, GPs, practitioners and nursing staff."