Town could lose walk-in centre

A North Staffordshire town could lose its minor injuries unit as part of a country-wide NHS review of urgent care. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board is introducing urgent treatment centres (UTCs) to replace the existing minor injuries units and walk-in centres across the county.

The UTCs will offer a consistent range of services for adults and children, and each will be open for at least 12 hours a day – ending the current patchwork of varying provision. But following a review, the ICB is not proposing to replace the existing MIUs in Leek or Cannock Chase – the latter has been ‘temporarily’ closed since the pandemic – saying these sites do not currently meet the criteria for an UTC.

UTCs, which will treat minor but non-life threatening injuries or illnesses, are being proposed for Haywood Hospital in Burslem, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital in Lichfield, and Sir Robert Peel Hospital in Tamworth. The ICB is also proposing to have up to three UTCs alongside the existing emergency departments at the Royal Stoke, Queen’s Hospital in Burton and County Hospital in Stafford.

According to an information document setting out the proposals, Leek Moorlands Hospital does not meet the UTC standards around access and layout, access for ambulances, X-ray provision and the systems for booking appointments. The document says that while it would be possible to upgrade the hospital to meet the criteria, the NHS needs ‘to invest wisely and get the best value for money’ by looking at what services would be most appropriate to meet people’s needs.

The ICB, which has been carrying out an ‘engagement’ with residents over urgent care since July, insists that no final decisions on the UTCs have been taken. But Leek South county councillor Charlotte Atkins, who attended an engagement event in the town on Thursday, has hit out at the proposals and the stated reasons for closing the MIU at Leek Moorlands.

Ms Atkins said: “The reasons they’ve given are completely ridiculous. They talk about accessibility – people just need to turn up at the front door. They talk about systems for booking appointments, but we do actually have the internet and phones in the Moorlands. And they talk about X-rays. We do have X-ray provision at Leek Moorlands, but it’s only available Monday to Friday because staff have been moved to Stoke-on-Trent.

“The Moorlands has 100,000 people and covers 220 square miles. There are no direct bus services to any of the other walk-in centres, and the ambulance response times in the Moorlands are terrible. The officials at the ICB might think it’s a simple matter to get from Leek to one of the other hospitals, but that’s because they’d be in their posh cars. I’d challenge them to come here and try and get to one of the other urgent treatment centres by bus.

“Our population is older than average as well, and it’s older people who are most likely to need to use a urgent treatment centre, as they’re more at risk of injury and illnesses are more prevalent.

“They’re proposing two UTCs in Stoke-on-Trent but none in the Moorlands. It’s like our people don’t matter. But we will be fighting this.”

In 2023, the Leek Moorlands MIU had 15,971 patients, equating to 44 a day. According to the information document, on days when the MIU was closed, it had ‘very little or no impact’ on other hospitals.

An analysis of patient data shows that while 20 per cent of patients could have been treated by a GP, and five per cent could have gone to a pharmacy, 44 per cent of patients would have needed a UTC.

Another engagement event is due to take place in Leek on Tuesday evening, but all places at the meeting have been booked. The ICB says that there are currently no ‘hard-and-fast’ proposals and that the current engagement is not a formal consultation.

To learn more about the UTC proposals, and to take part in an online survey, visit https://staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk/uec-get-involved