Overnight re-opening of A&E unit confirmed

Officials at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust controversially shut the unit at Pontefract’s hospital between 10pm and 8am last November amid problems recruiting doctors to staff it.

Now they have confirmed plans to open it from September after signing a deal with private firm Nestor Primecare which will provide GPs skilled in emergency medicine to work there overnight in a contract initially for 12 months.

Stephen Eames, interim chief executive at the trust, said the long-term future of the unit would be resolved following a major review of NHS service provision in the area.

“Their team of GPs will work with our own staff including a nurse practitioner, emergency medicine nursing staff and with the on-site support of an anaesthetist,” he said.

“It’s important to say that this has always been a short term solution to the issue. The long term future of emergency care at Pontefract will be determined by our clinical services strategy which we will be consulting on widely.”

Ahead of the re-opening, local people who need help from A&E overnight should continue to dial 999 in an emergency or go to A&E at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield unless another casualty unit is closer.