Emergency care unit to be tested

The new facility is being brought in as part of a major shake-up of Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust services.

It will run alongside the current A&E department at Dewsbury, which will eventually be downgraded.

The most serious emergency cases will be dealt with at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield from them on.

Chief executive Stephen Eames said the Trust wanted to trial the unit before any changes to current services.

“I think we’re probably looking at some of the changes starting around the spring of 2014, running over the next couple of years,” he said. “The unit is, in effect, diverting a proportion of activity that would normally go through the A&E department.”

Staff in the unit will assess walk-in patients and be able to carry out some tests so that only those who do not need to stay in hospital can be sent home quicker.

Mr Eames said: “It’s more up front decision-making by expert clinicians, ideally preventing patients from being admitted to hospital.”

It is hoped the emergency day care unit will be ready by late September.

The trust also hopes to have its new children’s assessment unit in place before the end of 2013 to offer a similar service tailored to children.