Local meetings help residents have their say about urgent and emergency healthcare

A series of events are being held to encourage people from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to discuss their views on urgent care. 

They are part of an exercise to gather views on local urgent and emergency care services. People are also invited to complete an online survey. 

There will be 10 discussion events which anyone can book onto using this online registration form. They are: 

Burton upon Trent, Friday 13 September 2024, 10am to 12pm Queen Street Community Centre, Queen Street, Burton upon Trent, DE14 3LW 

Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tuesday 17 September 2024, 1pm to 3pm The Guildhall, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1PW 

Hednesford, Wednesday 18 September, 10am to 12pm The Aquarius, Victoria Shopping Park, Hednesford, WS12 1BT 

Stoke-on-Trent, Thursday 19 September 2024, 1pm to 3pm Wade Conference Centre, Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7NY 

Wombourne, Monday 23 September 2024, 1pm to 3pm Wombourne Civic Centre, Gravel Hill, Wombourne, WV5 9HA 

Codsall, Tuesday 24 September 2024, 1pm to 3pm Codsall Village Hall, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton, WV8 1PL 

Lichfield, Wednesday 25 September, 10am to 12pm Lichfield Guildhall, Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LU 

Tamworth, Monday 30 September 2024, 1pm to 3pm Tamworth Castle Hotel, Lady Bank, Tamworth, B79 7NB 

Stafford, Wednesday 2 October 2024, 10am to 12pm Entrust at The Riverway Centre, Riverway, Stafford, ST16 3TH 

Leek, Thursday 3 October 2024, 10am to 12pm Haregate Community Centre, 46 Queens Drive, Leek, ST13 6DJ 

Dr Steve Fawcett, a GP and Clinical Director of Urgent and Emergency Care for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, said: “Residents have told us that with the current mix of urgent care services it’s not always clear which is the most appropriate service to use. That means they often go to an emergency department instead, where they will face a long wait if their condition is not a medical emergency. 

“Urgent care is care which is needed that day but isn’t an emergency which threatens life or limb. Our urgent treatment centres will be geared to providing that, offering people help for a range of minor injuries and illnesses. 

“We have worked with hospital trusts and all other partners to review our services against the nationally mandated standards for UTCs. 

“The development of UTCs will help make sure patients get seen in the right place at the right time, and this exercise will help us to further develop our plans.” 

Residents can fill in the online survey or easy read survey, both of which will be open until Sunday 6 October. As well as the meetings listed above, there will be other meetings held with groups representing a range of local residents and communities as well as pop-up events at a variety of venues. 

The need for further local meetings will be kept under review.