by John Prince
Figures have revealed that the work done by volunteers at Hornsea First Aid Centre could have helped to avoid almost £135,000 in NHS treatment costs in 2025.
The charity, which was established in 2018, provides free first aid to residents and visitors from its base in Tesco’s car park on Southgate.
An analysis of the centre’s work by Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s cost benefit analysis unit, has calculated the potential cost of providing equivalent treatment through NHS services at £134,907.
The estimate is based on published healthcare costs using figures attributed to the GMCA’s cost database. The report also shows that 811 patients were treated in the same year.
The calculations compare the number and type of cases dealt with by volunteers against the estimated costs of treatment elsewhere, including £291 for an A&E or urgent care attendance, £132 for a minor injuries unit visit and £18 for a community pharmacy consultation.
Wound treatment accounted for the largest number of cases, with 279 patients receiving care, representing an estimated £81,189 in equivalent NHS costs.
A further 102 patients attended for wound redressing, while volunteers dealt with 80 cases involving stings and bites, 52 grazes, 30 strains and sprains, 28 eye and ear injuries and 24 burns and scalds.
The centre also helped 22 patients with splinters and recorded 168 other presentations, including blood pressure checks, blisters, rashes, minor ailments and advice.
Crucially, the volunteers also recognised when patients needed more specialist medical attention.
During the year, 23 fracture cases were ‘appropriately escalated’ and referred to urgent care, while ambulances were called to three reported heart attack incidents.
These 26 cases were included in the overall patient total but excluded from the financial calculation.
The £134,907 figure is an estimate of potential costs avoided rather than a confirmed financial saving to the NHS, as it cannot be established whether every patient would otherwise have attended the alternative service used in the calculations.
Nevertheless, the figures highlight the contribution made by the volunteer-run centre in providing accessible first aid locally and potentially reducing demand on overstretched NHS services.
Hornsea First Aid Centre was established after the town lost its NHS minor injuries unit as part of a wider reorganisation of urgent care services across the East Riding.
The closure left residents facing journeys to Beverley or Bridlington for treatment that had previously been available locally.
The centre was established by local volunteers to provide a practical alternative for minor injuries, although it does not replace a fully equipped NHS urgent treatment centre.
Operating as a registered charity, the service relies on volunteers, donations, grants and community fundraising to continue its work.
The centre calculated the potential savings using published healthcare cost estimates from a national database maintained by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which is widely used to assess the financial and social benefits of public services.
GMCA originally developed the methodology in 2011. It was adopted as supplementary guidance to HM Treasury’s Green Book in 2014 and is now used nationally.
For more information go to: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/research/research-cost-benefit-analysis/
For Government information click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-public-service-transformation-cost-benefit-analysis-guidance-for-local-partnerships
