Urgent treatment centre brings care closer to home

A re-designation of a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) as an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) has brought care for a wider range of urgent but non-life-threatening health conditions closer to home.

(c) Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

(c) Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Staffed by experienced emergency practitioners and doctors, the Haslemere UTC works in close partnership with the Emergency Department at Royal Surrey in Guildford to provide timely, professional care for urgent conditions that don't require a visit to an Emergency Department (A&E).

This includes a wide variety of minor injuries and illnesses such as sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, minor cuts and burns, fevers, rashes, wound infections and more. The team can also help with eye and ear problems, abdominal pain, and emergency contraception. 

As part of the upgrade, a new Point of Care Testing room has also been added, enabling blood tests to be carried out on-site, reducing the need for patients to travel to Guildford for urgent investigations.

This change is part of a national NHS initiative to improve access to urgent care and ease pressure on busy Emergency Departments. It also helps to reduce unnecessary travel and long waits, giving people access to the care they need, closer to home.

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