On Friday 16th January, DHU welcomed Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins to its Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) that is co-located at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
With demand on emergency care high, UTCs are able to see treat and discharge a proportion of the patients attending the Emergency department each day
Mr Perkins was given a tour of the UTC and met with some of the clinicians who provide care, as well as speaking to some of the patients who were receiving treatment.
Rachel Revill is Clinical Service Lead for the UTC and said: “We work with the Trust to support caring for patients who attend the emergency department with a range of illnesses and conditions.
“Knowing which service to use can be confusing for patients. We are one of several that can provide treatment, others include GPs or pharmacies, which are often the best first point of contact for minor illnesses and conditions. Understanding which service to use helps the whole health system work more efficiently, and UTCs play a key role in that. If you are unsure then call 111 who can direct you to the service that you need.”
Mr Perkins said: “It was interesting to have a look at how a UTC works, its place in the wider health system and the type of patient they can treat. I think it’s an area of the health service that isn’t perhaps as widely known and it was intriguing to hear that many of the conditions treated mirror those who visit an Emergency Department.
“Having one co-located at the hospital has advantages and disadvantages, helping with the triage process of patients but the space is limited as a result. I think a wider understanding of what conditions a UTC can treat would be a massive benefit to patients and the wider health system.”
Pictured above, left to right: DHU Director of UEC UTCs Reiss Bond, Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, DHU Non-Executive Director Gillian Adams, DHU Clinical Service Lead, Rachel Revill and DHU Chief Operating Officer Paul Tilson.
If you want to know more about UTCs and how they work within the NHS, you can visit this dedicated NHS page that explains in detail how to use a UTC and how they can work for you - click here to find out more.
