Burnham-On-Sea Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit has seen a big increase in the number of patients requesting treatment due to the ongoing closure of Weston Hospital’s A&E each night and rising waiting times at local GP services.
This has resulted in the number of patients at Burnham-On-Sea Hospital in Love Lane “shooting up”.
Bernard Spilsbury, Chairman of The Friends of Burnham Hospital, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Over the last 12 months the Local Health Service has seen several changes due to the overall pressures on urgent and unscheduled care, which are reflected nationally.”
“Recently the closure of the Accident and Emergency Department in Weston Hospital overnight and the increasing pressures on general practices, due to the difficulties in employing new general practitioners, has resulted in Burnham’s MIU seeing and treating a greater number of patients, many with acute and urgent conditions that under ideal conditions, would be handled by a dedicated centre.”
“The numbers of patients treated has shot up and this small unit in Burnham now finds itself busier than ever.”
He added: “The Trust has recently increased the operating hours at Burnham; and the unit is now open eight hours a day all year round.”
Burnham’s Minor Injuries Unit is open every day 10am-6pm with the last registration of patients at 5.30pm. The unit provides a walk-in-service for patients with minor injuries and illness.
Weston Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department is temporarily shut between 10pm and 8am each day while it tries to recruit extra staff.
The extra demand was confirmed during the unveiling of a new piece of medical equipment on Monday (December 18th).
Bernard added: “With more patients visiting the hospital with ever-greater needs, it became apparent that a better way of retrieving patients that had ‘collapsed’ in the hospital and the immediate grounds was needed.”
“A very simple answer was available, but not through our Local Trust, and as a result the Friends were asked if they would provide a ‘Scoop Stretcher’.”
The Stretcher is very light, adjustable and can easily be taken by one person anywhere on the Hospital site. “It simply opens, slides under the patient and then staff can transfer the patient into the minor injury unit for assessment and treatment.”
The Friends of the Hospital are always looking for people who are willing to help. If you would like to make a donation it can be done via its website or simply be left in the MIU/Outpatients Department at the Hospital in an envelope marked FAO of the Friends of The Hospital Treasurer.
Pictured: Bernard Spilsbury (Chairman) and Ceri Joyce (Publicity) handing over the Stretcher to Mike Paynter (Consultant Nurse with Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) and Penny Cotton (Emergency Nurse Practitioner)
