Proposal to change opening hours at Urgent Treatment Centre
We're seeking views on a proposal to change the opening hours at the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Central Middlesex Hospital.
Currently, the UTC is open between 8am and 12midnight, seven days per week, with the last patient registered at 11pm. However, an average of just four patients per hour attend after 9pm, and many of those would be better supported by their GP or pharmacy services.
Also, the hospital does not have radiology services (X-Ray, ultrasound etc) available after 8pm. This is because low patient numbers and a limited workforce mean that allocating staff to radiology services after 8pm is not an efficient use of resources. This does mean that some patients who visit after 8pm must visit another centre that evening or to return for care the following day. We know this is both inconvenient and can cause delays to care.
This is why we are proposing new hours of 8am to 9pm, with the last patient registered at 8pm.
There would be no other changes and the UTC which would continue to provide the same full range of urgent care services for injuries and illnesses that are not life threatening. These include sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings. The UTC would continue to open seven days a week and, as now, see an average of 132 patients per day.
We want to understand how this change might affect patients, their families, or the people they care for. We are therefore holding two public involvement events to hear people’s views before we make any final decision. These will be held on:
- Thursday 23 October from 6pm to 7pm at Central Middlesex Hospital
- Friday 31 October from 12pm to 1pm at Central Middlesex Hospital
If you would like to attend either event, please register your attendance on EventBrite.
There is also an online questionnaire about the proposal which should only take a few minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous, and your views will be shared with decision-makers to help shape the future of urgent care in your area.
Your involvement with this proposal will help us understand how the change might affect local communities. It will also guide us in making sure patients can still get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.