A planned new diagnostic service could have a branch in Spalding, but there’s concern stroke and orthopaedic services are moving further away.
Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group is looking at creating a second Diagnostic Centre in the county in addition to the one currently in Grantham.
The idea behind them is that people could get a quicker diagnosis from tests done in the buildings which are separate to existing hospitals.
After consultation as to where a new one should go, one of the options listed is for a hub to be at Boston with spokes (where people could go for tests in normal opening hours) at Skegness and Mablethorpe and “possibly” Spalding.
NHS chiefs who spoke to Lincolnshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel said that was their current preferred choice ahead of sites based in Louth and Lincoln, and the option the panel itself voted to support.
The CCG is putting a business plan together in a bid to get government funding.
“While these wouldn’t be on the same hospital sites, it will provide the capacity for people attending A&E to be seen in a quicker way,” Lincolnshire CCG assistant plan care programme Sarah Brinkworth said.
* Meanwhile, the Health Panel has criticised CCG plans which include centring orthopaedic surgery in Grantham and stroke services in Lincoln.
Health professionals and councillors feel it would mean more from South Holland and the surrounding districts would look to use hospitals in King’s Lynn or Peterborough instead of Boston Pilgrim as a result.
Coun Carl Macey, the committee chairman, said: “We are extremely disappointed with Lincolnshire CCG’s decision.
“All through the consultation process the committee has, for sensible reasons, disagreed with the proposals put forward, mirroring with opposition from local people.
“Together with many local people, we’re not convinced about using Grantham as a “centre of excellence” for planned orthopaedic surgery – people in the east of the county will struggle to access the hospital with limited public transport.
“And the proposals to establish Lincoln County Hospital as a “centre of excellence” for stroke services will take a vital service away from the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston where many patients from the surrounding area and east of the county are currently treated.
“For transport and travel arrangements we’ll want to know any new local discretions allowed as part of the national non-emergency patient transport arrangements.”
