Longer opening hours to go live at Newark UTC
Posted Friday, November 8, 2024 3:05 PM
New, extended opening hours at Newark Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) will begin from Monday 11 November 2024.
From that date, the UTC will open between 8am – 10.30pm (last patient admitted at 9.30pm) seven days a week, offering an extended window for patients to access essential healthcare services.
The change means that the UTC will open an hour earlier and remain open half an hour longer after the last patient is admitted than at present. The extended hours will be introduced in time to help meet the expected increase in demand over the winter months.
The UTC, which is run by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SFH), provides urgent care and non-life-threatening treatment for injuries or conditions, such as cuts, simple broken bones, wounds, minor burns and minor head, eye and back injuries.
This is different to an Accident and Emergency (A&E) service, open 24-hours, which is for severe and life-threatening emergencies such as heavy bleeding, choking and seizures.
Victoria McGregor-Riley, Director of Strategy and System Development at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “We welcome the launch of new, extended opening hours at Newark UTC which will provide ongoing high-quality urgent care for the people of Newark and surrounding areas.
“The change means that the UTC will be open for 14.5 hours per day, which not only exceeds the 12-hour minimum national standard for UTCs set by NHS England, but also the current operating hours.
“The UTC is one of a wide range of healthcare options available for patients in the area. If anyone needs medical help and they’re not sure which service is best, we’d advise using the 111 service online, or by phone.”
The current, temporary opening hours were put in place at the start of the Covid pandemic and have been used for the last four and a half years.
NHS leaders made the decision to extend the opening hours following feedback from residents, stakeholders, and clinical input from healthcare experts.
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and SFH will continue to assess the impact of the extended operating hours, monitoring usage and reviewing patient feedback to ensure it continues to provide a responsive service to local people.
People needing healthcare are reminded that a wide range of options to get appropriate treatment are available around the clock.
The quickest way to receive medical help, including an out of hours GP appointment, is via NHS111 online or by phone – available 24 hours a day.
Depending on what you need, you might be advised to self-medicate at home or be offered one of these options:
- see a pharmacist for help with a minor illness
- contact your GP surgery
- get urgent specialist dental or mental health support
- book a call back from a nurse
- see an out-of-hours GP
- go to a UTC
- call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency
Pharmacists can provide advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help. Under the Pharmacy First scheme, they may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP. Discover more about Pharmacy First and find a pharmacy near you on NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's website (external site).
In a medical emergency, call 999. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
