NEW rules spelling out which patients can be taken to Grantham Hospital were issued to ambulance drivers this week and came into force on Wednesday night.
In February the Trust announced a "temporary cessation" of emergency surgery at Grantham Hospital.
From midnight on Wednesday new rules came into effect over which patients can be taken to Grantham Hospital.
All patients likely to need emergency
general surgery will be taken to other hospitals, while Grantham A&E will still receive patients requiring immediate resuscitation or surgical opinion and those with soft tissue injuries or broken bones.
Trust medical director David Boldy said: "If a patient goes to Grantham A&E independently then they will be assessed by the A&E team and if necessary, reviewed by the surgical doctor on site.
"If they believe that the patient is assessed as requiring an emergency surgical intervention, then they will transfer the patient to another hospital.
"There is no change for cardiac patients They will continue to be admitted directly to the hospital's coronary care unit or appropriate ward for immediate and specialist care."
The final decision on whether emergency surgery will be restored will be made by Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust.
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