Throughout the past number of years, the Emergency Departments at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Bassetlaw Hospital have experienced a rise in attendance. Highlighting this increase, in June 2019, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) cared for more than 13,600 patients within their urgent services, an increase of 5.89% shared across both sites from the year before.
As time passes, attendances are increasing, expectations continue to grow and conditions become ever more complex. As such, the Trust is working in partnership with NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to understand how to improve this particular service, ensuring it meets the future needs of people in Doncaster.
Together, the two organisations have developed a short survey, asking for local views about emergency services in the area. The questionnaire is completely anonymous, and will inform the NHS as it looks to improve care and treatment in the not-too-distant future.
Dr David Crichton, local GP and Clinical Chair, NHS Doncaster CCG said: “It’s important to continually review the services we provide to ensure they take into consideration new developments and make sure they are the best they can be. We are currently looking at the urgent and emergency care model to ensure it meets the future needs and requirements of local people.
“There are a number of services available in Doncaster that provide information, support and advice for minor and less complex health conditions. For those of us that do need to access urgent care services, this survey will help us to build a future model that’s based on the views of you, our local communities in Doncaster.”
This work compliments a previous project undertaken in October 2018, which focused upon why 18 to 35 year olds (also known as millennials) attend to the Emergency Department, as well as their perception of what services are available in the area. With over 3,000 responses collected last year, this most recent survey looks to build upon this existing feedback; ensuring health commissioners understand the needs of local people before further developing local services.
Dr Nick Mallaband, Consultant and Divisional Director of Medicine at DBTH, said: “Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. As we look to improve our emergency and urgent services in the area, it’s vitally important that we understand what local people want and that this is factored into any future developments and enhancements.”
The survey can be accessed by heading to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/doncasterUrgentCare and will close 1 September 2019.
Throughout this time, the local NHS will be working with Healthwatch Doncaster, who will also be speaking to patients within the Emergency Department at Doncaster Royal Infirmary on select dates.
Please fill in the survey and help to improve care and treatment in Doncaster.