Pontefract A&E unit to reopen overnight

The department is set to reopen between 10pm and 8am on September 3.

A sub-contracted team of GPs will treat patients along with a nurse practitioner, emergency medicine nursing staff and an anaesthetist.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust closed overnight servies at the unit in November, claiming there was a shortage of emergency doctors.

The closure caused public outrage and fears over patient safety.

Stephen Eames, interim chief executive at the trust, said: “There remains a shortage of hospital emergency doctors so we are sub-contracting a team of GPs. These GPs have the skills needed in emergency medicine to support our existing team and for us to provide the same emergency service at Pontefract overnight as before.

“We have made it clear that we need a longer term solution to emergency care across all three of our hospital sites, in particular our 24/7 consultant-led A&E at Pontefract. We are looking at options for the future as part of our wider clinical services strategy and will continue to involve local people and our partners in these discussions.”

People needing emergency care up until the reopening have been reminded to call 999 or go to their nearest A&E department, such as at Pinderfields Hospital.