New Urgent Treatment Centre opens at St George’s

The unit will help support the Emergency Department (ED) to focus on providing emergency care for life threatening conditions.

It replaces the temporary Injuries Unit in St James’ Wing Outpatients created during the pandemic and will continue to see the types of patients previously seen in the ED Injuries Unit, as well as an extended patient group requiring urgent care.

The UTC is equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common injuries and ailments that people have when they attend the ED. The service will be provided by emergency practitioners, GPs, emergency medicine clinicians and registered nurses.

Vicky Mummery, Lead Emergency Practitioner at St George’s, said: “Opening the UTC will help ensure patients are seen in the right place at the right time by the correct clinician. The centre will also provide great support to the main ED by freeing up capacity for patients who are acutely unwell.

“The clinical area has been purpose built to see patients presenting with minor injuries and minor illness and is a great addition to the Emergency Department.”

Jack, Senior Staff Nurse, said: “As a team we are so excited that our urgent care patients will have a permanent purpose-built new home. Professionally, the nursing team are really excited to support the development and evolution of urgent care services at St George’s starting from the opening of the UTC.”

The operational hours are 7.30am-2am, seven days a week. Accessing the UTC continues to be via the Emergency Department, therefore please continue to present here initially. The ED will remain open 24/7.

The UTC service is one option in the wide range of local healthcare services available. These include visiting your local pharmacist, bookable GP services, and GP Out of Hours. If you need medical help, please call NHS 111 first and they will advise and signpost you as needed.

Anyone with serious injuries or a potentially life-threatening medical emergency should dial 999.