Emergency patients set for hospital move (From Watford Observer)

Emergency patients set for hospital move

12:20pm Monday 6th October 2008

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The next stage of plans to develop acute hospital services at Watford General Hospital will begin next month.

From November 3, 999 "blue light" ambulances will take emergency patients straight to Watford General after 10pm and before 8am. Staff numbers will be increased to ensure patients have the "best possible emergency care", although the changes will affect, on average, less than ten patients each night.

The A&E unit at Hemel Hempstead will remain open until March next year, when it will transfer to Watford General, in Vicarage Road.

Jan Filochowski, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is part of an agreed and a well planned move. It is the first in a series of phased changes that involves local GPs, the local Primary Care Trust and the Acute Hospital Trust working closely together to ensure safe, top quality services for our patients."

GP Tony Davies, clinical director of Herts Urgent Care, the local GP Out of Hours service, added: “This change has been agreed between Herts Urgent Care and the West Herts Hospital Trust to ensure patient safety.

"The vast majority of local patients will still be treated at Hemel Hempstead in the A&E unit, in the Urgent Care Centre or the Out of Hours GP service, which is also located on the site. By integrating services in this way all can work together in the interests of good patient care."  

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