R4U gets confirmation from NHS that north Uttlesford residents will retain access to Addenbrookes hospital

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) has announced that it is delighted that it has received confirmation from the NHS that residents of North Uttlesford will retain their right of access to Addenbrookes Hospital. Gaining clarity on the situation was a priority for newly elected Essex County Councillor Paul Gadd (R4U).

R4U’s Cllr Paul Gadd, Essex County Councillor for the Saffron Walden division, said “During the recent ECC election campaign there were suggestions by the previous County Councillor that residents of Saffron Walden and the rest of North Uttlesford would in future be referred to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, rather than continuing to be referred to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. As a priority I have discussed these concerns within Essex County Council and with the NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for North Uttlesford. The WECCG have confirmed that North Uttlesford has been and always will be in the core catchment of Addenbrookes for all services.”

Cllr Gadd continued “I’m very grateful for the swift response I’ve received from WECCG, and to be able to allay concerns that North Uttlesford residents would start to be referred away from Cambridge. There is currently still one area of concern however, concerning cardiology. Addenbrookes cardiology services are temporarily not accepting referrals from North Uttlesford because of capacity issues; WECCG are working hard to overcome this and to ensure that local residents are referred to Addenbrookes for cardiology as well as all other services. I am pushing for a quick resolution to this outstanding issue and will provide an update once I have one.”

The NHS has confirmed that thye classify North Uttlesford as patients registered with the Crocus (Saffron Walden/Great Chesterford), Gold Street (Saffron Walden/Great Chesterford), Newport and Thaxted GP surgeries; and South Uttlesford as Angel Lane (Dunmow), John Tasker House (Dunmow), Elsenham Stansted, and Eden (Hatfield Health) surgeries.

R4U’s Cllr Mike Tayler, Uttlesford District Councillor for Thaxted and former GP, said “UDC are meeting regularly with WECCG, and I’d like to echo Cllr Gadd’s thanks for their efforts on behalf of local residents, and particularly the need to restore cardiology access at the Cambridge hospitals.”

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