Publish date: 8 December 2022


Winter Hub Amie and Nat.png

DHU Healthcare has seen its first patient this morning as part of its role in providing extra primary care appointments through Derbyshire’s Winter Hubs.

DHU has been commissioned to run the services initially from Ashgate Manor in Chesterfield and Derby Urgent Treatment Centre whereby a GP or Practitioner will see patients, referred from primary care who need ‘on the day’ face to face assessment. Further sites will become live as we progress forward.

Kirsty Osborn is DHU Healthcare’s Deputy Director of Urgent Care (Derbyshire), she said: “Our first patient was a child who had been experiencing cough and flu-like symptoms with a fever that had been ongoing for more than a week. They had tried self-medication and quite rightly were given an appointment here with us through the Winter Hub, supported by our Patient Services Assistants Amie, Nat (pictured above) and Charlie.

“There are criteria for being seen at the hub here in Ashgate or Derby, for example the condition should not be chronic, complex or anything that requires ongoing care. What it should be is, just like with our first patient, a condition that requires a face to face review from a clinician.

“The hope is that the hub, and we run daily from 9am to 6pm, will help to take the pressure off our primary care colleagues who are working very hard to see patients and reduce the need for an unnecessary trip to the Emergency Department or an ambulance call out.”

Calls to primary care will be triaged and assessed by a clinician based within the practice. Where appropriate, they will be referred to DHU Healthcare’s Winter Hub team who will arrange for an appointment depending on clinical priority.

Kirsty added: “In the case of our first patient, we were able to get the parent an appointment with the child here at 9am this morning. It’s great news for the parent who has the peace of mind of a face to face clinical appointment, it’s one less person looking for a GP appointment and one less person taking their child to the Emergency Department when all they needed was primary care help from the right person.

“At a time when there is so much focus on pressure and demand on the nation’s health services, having initiatives such as the Winter Hub that aim to fill potential gaps in the system are a wonderful way of ensuring people do get the help they need, in good time and from the right person.”

Please remember that if you need help and advice quickly about a medical condition, visit 111 online to find out where you need to go to get the treatment and help you need.

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