URGENT care services are coming together to ensure patients can access the same level of care wherever they are on Teesside.
From 1 April a new urgent treatment centre (UTC) will open at The James Cook University Hospital and the UTC at Redcar Primary Care Hospital will extend its hours so it stays open until midnight.
The Middlesbrough site will be open 24 hours a day along with urgent care centres at the University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool.
Services will be standardised across all four Teesside centres which will share expertise – including GPs, nurse practitioners and health support workers – and treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries including:
- Strains and sprains
- Suspected broken limbs
- Minor head injuries
- Cuts and grazes
- Bites and stings, minor scalds and burns
- Ear and throat infections
- Skin infections and rashes
- Eye problems
- Coughs and colds
- Feverish illness
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Urinary tract infections
Patients who are unwell and need to access urgent care at any of the Teesside centres are advised to visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111 first so an appointment can be made where appropriate. For minor injuries patients can walk into all four centres without an appointment.
Health alliance to run service together
It is hoped the service, which will be jointly run by an alliance of four health organisations – North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and Hartlepool and Stockton Health (H&SH) GP federation – will help reduce pressures on busy emergency departments.
Andy Hebron, clinical director for emergency care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Patients should continue to contact their GP, pharmacist or 111 for non-urgent health issues, but if they have a minor illness or injury that needs urgent attention, our centres are here to help.
“This alliance is great news for our patients as they can now access the same care and treatment at all four Teesside centres including our new Middlesbrough centre which is situated next to the James Cook emergency department.”
Kevin Moore, clinical director for emergency care at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This alliance will ensure people get the right help at the right time for a whole range of minor injuries and illnesses.
“We know our patients want as smooth a journey as possible when receiving treatment and urgent care services help ensure this is the case.”
Stephen Segasby, chief operating officer at North East Ambulance Service, said: “The ambulance service is now so much more than just a transportation service, and our advanced practitioner team already have a proven track record of delivering out of hours care alongside our colleagues in North Tees. This new alliance builds on the success of that, providing us with a fantastic opportunity to work together to provide a better service for our patients by improving the consistency of service provision across Tees Valley.
“As the healthcare needs of our region change, we’re keen to develop our paramedic workforce to meet those needs. This service provides a fantastic development opportunity for them to gain urgent and primary care experience whilst remaining employed by us.”
Lucy Falcus, medical director at Hartlepool and Stockton Health, added: “In the future urgent care services will be easier for patients to navigate, as the care provided will be the same whether you live in the North or South Tees area.
“We are excited to be involved in keeping this service local to patients and staffed by local doctors and nurses.”
Pictured, left to right: Kevin Moore, clinical director for emergency care at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Josie Hale, operations manager at North East Ambulance Trust; Lucy Falcus, medical director at Hartlepool and Stockton Health; Andy Hebron, clinical director for emergency care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.