Haslemere’s Walk-in centres and other minor injury units in Surrey will be transformed into a new service called urgent treatment centres.
This is a welcome boost for the town and nearby residents, but traffic is expected to increase.
Users of the existing walk-in centres ask, “Will there be more doctors?”
Urgent treatment centres will be able to treat patients of all ages for minor ailments and injuries that are not life-threatening. They will be open seven days a week for a minimum of 12 hours daily. Urgent treatment centres are GP-led but are not an alternative to a GP practice, which should usually be contacted first.
Patients of all ages can be seen, whether they have booked an appointment or not, and if they have a minor injury or minor ailment. Scheduled appointments can be made by ringing NHS 111.
Minor injury units and walk-in centres have developed locally over time, sometimes with different service offers.
“Often, this system is complicated for patients who don’t understand where they should be going, with what complaints, and to see the right clinician or nurse,” an NHS official recently told Surrey County Councillors at an Adult and Health Select Committee meeting.
Increasing demand for emergency departments and minor injuries units means local NHS services are seeing more patients than ever.
Over a thousand people seek urgent help from local emergency departments across Surrey Heartlands daily.
Surrey Heartlands bosses explained that the change will lead patients away from acute Emergency Departments into more local services, easing pressure on acute services and improving patient experience.
There is expected to be a 25 per cent increase in patients going to urgent treatment centres across Surrey.
The new urgent treatment centres would also direct patients to the most appropriate services and doctors or nurses to see them for treatment.
Surrey Heartland bosses said, “There is an eye on the clock” when examining urgent treatment centres and emergency department wait times. Most importantly, they told patients they should only be processed once so they do not have to repeatedly relay their medical information to another service.
The Haslemere Walk-in Centre, Woking’s Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit, Caterham Dene Minor Injuries Unit, and Ashford Hospital Walk-in Centre are being transformed into UTCs. The transition is expected to be fully completed by April.
Councillors were concerned about how easily accessible the urgent care unit would be for those who relied on public transport or had mobility issues. The ICS board said it recognises the difficulties and will speak to local transport links, but it is not something they can provide at the moment.
Why has Cranleigh Hospital not been included as one of the new urgent treatment centres?