Mexborough minor injuries unit set for upgrade

The Montagu Hospital, in Mexborough, is set to be given Urgent Treatment Centre status – which represents a step up from its current minor injuries unit from next month.

Bosses have to make the change if they are to be allowed to continue to include the site in its A&E waiting time figures.

NHS bosses also want to make the upgrade to help keep as many patients as possible away from the DRI site by giving them a service closer to home, said an official report.

It had initially been suggested by officials that making the transition by December would not be feasibe, and March 2020 would be a more realistic target.

Dr David Crichton, the chairman of the Doncaster NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions NHS services in the borough, said: “We want to be able to offer more services at Mexborough. This would mean it has more services than just the minor injuries unit.

“We gave the green light for the trust which runs the hospital to look into it. There is still work to be done.

“It would mean you could go the Mexborough Montagu with minor illnesses as well as minor injuries. We want to make better use of the site. There is work to be done, but we feel there is merit in expanding that site.”

Rebecca Joyce, chief operating officer at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “Following national guidance from NHS England, we are required to transition our current Minor Injuries Unit at Montagu Hospital into an Urgent Treatment Centre by 2020.

“This means that the service, from December 2, will be able to treat both minor illnesses and injuries, substantially enhancing the service for the people of Mexborough, Doncaster and beyond. The current operating hours of 9am until 9pm daily will remain.”

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