Published:
3:32 PM January 18, 2021
Updated:
4:32 PM January 18, 2021
The Urgent Care Centre at The New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City. Picture: Alan Davies
- Credit: Alan Davies
Facing a surge in COVID-19 patients, East and North Herts NHS Trust decided to close the New QEII in Welwyn Garden City from 10pm to 8am last week so it could direct nurses to the Lister in Stevenage.
These are the same hours the urgent care centre was looked at being shut under a proposal by the East and North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group, which manages NHS services, back in 2019.
And now an NHS spokesperson has said: “This emergency, short-term arrangement will remain in place while the Lister continues to face extreme staffing challenges and the trust has committed to reviewing it weekly.
MCM Live is used by other councils across the country.
- Credit: WHBC
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Mears are rolling-out new technology from next week to help tenants better connect with their operatives when booking a repair.
MCM Live is a platform that will allow tenants to track their Mears operative on a live map, receive an estimated time of arrival, chat with their operative and upload photos relating to the repair.
In addition to providing tenants with a better experience, it is hoped the new technology will help the council reduce the number of ‘no access’ appointments, improving the overall efficiency of the service.
1 Burfield Close, Hatfield
- Credit: Google Street View
Demolition of all existing buildings at a Hatfield address has been proposed by the borough council.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has submitted a planning application for the use of Burfield Close to be changed from sheltered accommodation to providing Sui Generis, for temporary accommodation.
This could mean 25 self-contained dwelling units and 18 studio rooms with communal kitchens, associated staff office or store, 24 car parking spaces, cycle parking, landscaping, and associated works are built on the site.
Burfield was previously the site of sheltered housing until the council set about revamping the old block similar to Minster House, which is currently going through building work.
Commenting on the proposals, a spokesman for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council said: “We continue to face really tough financial choices. Balancing our budget, while delivering vital services, is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Our top priority is to protect the frontline services residents rely on most, which we have achieved for 2021/22 despite the added pressure of Covid-19 on our finances.
“Fees and charges are reviewed every year. This is to make sure they reflect the rising cost of providing services whilst also ensuring value for money for our residents.
“For some non-statutory services such as leisure, we aim to recover the cost of providing these services from the users.