THE deadline for responses to proposals to overhaul urgent care services in Worcestershire has been extended after there were concerns people were not given enough time to consider plans.

Residents now have until Wednesday, April 9 (a further three weeks), to comment on the draft urgent care strategy, jointly produced by the county’s NHS organisations, which sets out changes to how urgent care will be provided.

The decision to change the deadline followed feedback from Worcestershire’s health overview and scrutiny committee, who said they wanted to see the timescale for public engagement lengthened.

The strategy looks at how urgent care services will be delivered in the future to meet the needs of Worcestershire’s growing population. The draft document includes plans to reduce the strain on A&E departments in Worcester and Redditch, in particular through the development of urgent care centres, where hospital doctors and GPs will work alongside each other.

It also forwards plans to improve minor injuries units, including the one at Kidderminster Hospital, through closer working arrangements with A&E departments and local doctors.

Dr Simon Rumley, chairman and clinical lead for Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The changes set out in this strategy are hugely important for the future of urgent care services. To ensure local urgent care services are as effective as possible, some changes need to be made.

“We’re very keen for residents to have their say on the plans. By listening to what our patients tell us we are able to shape these plans to local needs and ensure we provide the best range of local urgent care services.”

Members of the public can comment of the draft strategy at wyreforestccg.nhs.uk/getting-involved/urgent-care or by emailing ccgcomms@worcestershire.nhs.uk