Redcar urgent treatment centre returns to normal hours

The urgent treatment centre (UTC) at Redcar Primary Care Hospital extended its opening hours to 11.30pm over the winter months to provide additional support to urgent care teams as part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Urgent treatment centres offer people urgent medical attention when it's not a life-threatening emergency.

If you have an injury or illness that requires urgent medical attention but is not life-threatening, Redcar UTC is open from 8am to 9.30pm, seven days a week, with free parking and on-site x-ray facilities.

The centre can give adults and children medical attention for a range of injuries or illnesses including: strains and sprains; suspected broken limbs; minor head injuries; cuts and grazes; and minor scalds and burns.

Whilst the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline, the trust still faces challenges such as adhering to social distancing and infection control pre-cautions which means the space available to care for people and allow our doctors and nurses to work safely still is reduced and this will continue for some time.

This is why clinicians at the trust are continuing to urge the public to think pharmacy, GP, UTC and 111 first and to only attend the emergency department at The James Cook University Hospital if they have serious or life-threatening emergencies.

Nick Athey, clinical director for emergency medicine, said: "It is really important that people help us help them by keeping our A&E department at The James Cook University Hospital free for genuine life-threatening emergencies only.

“Those who do attend A&E will be assessed clinically by a member of our team and if suitable, will be re-directed to a pharmacist, GP, 111 or one of our urgent treatment centres.

“If you are unsure where to go for medical advice please visit NHS 111 online in the first instance."

For more information on the UTC go to southtees.nhs.uk/hospitals/redcar