7:00am Monday 6th July 2009
By Steven Smith
THE future of Swanage’s controversial out of hours medical service is still up in the air.
NHS Dorset says talks are continuing with South Western Ambulance Service, which runs the scheme, to find “the most cost effective way” of continuing it.
It works on a “talk before you walk” basis where patients phone ahead to find out the best course of action to take depending on their problem. The idea has been on trial since the decision was taken to close Swanage Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) between 10pm and 8am.
After fierce protests to keep the unit open, campaigners, including the Open All Hours group, compromised on the out of hours plan, which includes having an emergency care practitioner available.
But it is understood that the service is under threat due to funding problems.
Health chiefs have now met with the Swanage MIU Review Group.
NHS Dorset’s interim chief executive Robin Smith said that the current pilot project, under which locally based ECPs and paramedics provide care, would continue until a final decision was made.
He added that monitoring of the pilot showed that demand for the service was low and he had asked the ambulance service to look at the idea of extending the ECP aspect to a wider area overnight and at weekends to make it more cost effective.
He said: “We could then utilise their skills more than we can at the moment. We will keep the review group and residents of Swanage updated on progress.”
Gerry Norris, from the Open All Hours Group, said campaigners were still hopeful of a solution that would offer the best level of care possible for the people of Swanage.
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