A new service for Driffield patients

Driffield patients are to benefit from the opening of a brand-new local service offering GP appointments for patients presenting with symptoms of respiratory infection. The Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) HUB, based at Alfred Bean Hospital Driffield, sets out to support the two Driffield GP practices by offering face to face appointments with appropriately qualified respiratory clinicians including GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners Monday-Friday 2pm-6pm.

This service comes during a busy time for practices in the midst of winter pressures and aims to offer an alternative avenue to treatment for those patients with acute respiratory infections or exacerbation of chronic conditions such as COPD and asthma.

Both the Medical Centre, Driffield and the Park Surgery, Driffield are able to utilise the ARI HUB as an extension of their GP appointments for the appropriate patients and can book into these appointments directly.  Additionally, it is anticipated that the ARI HUB will reduce pressure on local A&E departments by offering more Primary Care appointments for patients.

The League of Friends (LOF) have worked closely with the Dobson Family Charitable Trust 2021 to enable funding for this service using the legacy left by Mr Reginald Dobson. Yorkshire Health Partners (YHP) are delighted to have been commissioned to mobilise and run the service which began operation on Monday 8th January 2024.

Nicky Ingham, Treasurer of the League of Friends of the Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield said “We are delighted to announce that the Dobson Family Charitable Trust 2021 working with the League of Friends of the Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield has contributed £250,000 to enable the ARI unit to be up and running at the Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield for the coming year. The League of Friends have worked hard with various service providers to get this service commissioned. We are grateful for the support of Yorkshire Health Partners, who are running this service, and we are looking forward to working with them and the local Doctors, as well as other interested providers to supply further additional services to the Alfred Bean Hospital, so that patients in Driffield and the surrounding villages can benefit from using their local hospital rather than having to travel further afield. Mr Dobson’s generous legacy has enabled the League of Friends to continue its work, striving to make the Alfred Bean a good local hospital with services for everyone. We would like to emphasise that we will be continuing our hard work to bring further services and facilities to the hospital whilst continuing to support those already at the Alfred Bean.”

As the winter pressures subside, the ARI HUBs focus will change and become more concentrated on proactive care and diagnosis of respiratory conditions to support patients with a long-term condition to live the best life they can and manage their condition more effectively.

The pilot will initially run for 12 months, during this time YHP will be working with the commissioners to secure longer term funding.