21 July 2009
NHS patients across Cheshunt and Hertford are set to benefit from improved choice and access to high quality and convenient healthcare following the decision to select a partnership between Assura Lea Valley LLP and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust as the preferred provider for two new Urgent Care Centres.
The new Centres are to be provided on behalf of the Hertfordshire Primary Care Trusts as part of their plan to provide more health services closer to home.
Based at the Hertford County and Cheshunt Community hospitals, the Centres are scheduled to open in October 2009 and will provide care for patients with injuries caused by accidents and minor medical emergencies that are not life threatening and do not need intensive or specialist care.
Open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, the Urgent Care Centres can treat many of the patients who currently attend existing accident and emergency departments. Staffed by GPs and specially trained nurses, Urgent Care Centres offer assessment and treatment for injuries such as wounds, sprains and minor fractures which can be accessed on a 'walk-in' basis.
This means that the new centres will be available to all patients and do not require people to be registered with specific GP practices. Patients can use the Centre while remaining registered with their current doctor. The new Urgent Care Centres are in addition to and will complement existing local GP surgeries.
Dr Gerry McCabe, local GP and chairman of Assura Lea Valley LLP, said: “The new Centres will make a real difference by providing patients in Cheshunt and Hertford with high quality, easy and convenient access to urgent care treatment which does not require A&E attendance.
"We are an organisation of local GPs who understand the needs of local people and will ensure the new Centres meet these needs."
Dr Jon Baker, A&E consultant and clinical chair for medicine at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said: "Being chosen to provide the services at the new Urgent Care Centres is excellent news.
"We feel that our partnership with Assura will enable us to provide urgent care services to the people of east Hertfordshire, nearer to their homes. During recent public consultations, this is what people said they wanted and we are delighted to be providing that improvement for them."
ENDS
Press enquiries regarding Assura Group to:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations.
Tel: 01423 734 560; Mobile: 07802 484 155
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830
