Developments are taking place within urgent and unscheduled care for NHS Blackburn with Darwen, following work done by the Transformational Commissioning Board.
Since the implementation of Meeting Patient Needs (MPN) in 2007 East Lancashire has been served with one Emergency Department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital (RBH) and two Urgent Care Centres (UCC). One is sited at RBH and the other at Burnley General Hospital (BGH), these services are supported by minor injury/minor ailment services across the Health Economy.
With input from clinicians, commissioners and provider organisations, a Hub and Spoke model has been developed which will see the Hub of Urgent care in East Lancashire at RBH; with integrated Primary Care.
This supports the Department of Health work on Single Point of Access and NHS Pathways as a model for delivery.
It is intended that the phone number 111 will be in place for patients and practitioners to call to triage, advise and signpost patients to the most appropriate place when seeking urgent medical care; where a 999 call and ambulance are not appropriate.
Please feel free to send any comments or suggestions to Dr Asif Garda – TCB Clinical Lead for Unscheduled Care asif.garda@nhs.net or Dr Malcolm Ridgway – Medical Director NHS Blackburn with Darwen m.ridgway@nhs.net
