15/04/2020 - Permalink

News from our partners: Urgent Care Centres at RSH and PRH planned to relocate on 16 April

Related topics: Coronavirus / Health / Partner organisations

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)

The NHS is currently facing an unprecedented situation regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Health services in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin are taking measures to provide the safest care and best possible experience for patients during this time.

From Thursday 16 April 2020, Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) will temporarily relocate to the Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Whitchurch and Bridgnorth, to form two Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs).

People with major injuries and illnesses, such as head injuries and breathing difficulties, should still attend A&E. The Emergency Departments at PRH and RSH remain open and fully operational 24-hours-a-day. However, these changes will allow us to free up capacity to support those with more serious illnesses and injuries who need the level of care offered at hospital.

The two new UTCs will provide treatment for patients where their care needs are urgent, but non-life threatening.

In Bridgnorth, the UTC will be open from 9am to 9pm, seven-days-a-week, and be staffed by a rota of GPs, and doctors and nurses from SaTH. There will be a GP-led service for minor illnesses and injuries including minor cuts, dislocations and back pain.

In Whitchurch, there will be an enhanced service offered, with opening hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The county’s other two MIUs, at Ludlow and Oswestry, remain open for minor injuries and illnesses. The opening hours of these units can be found at www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/miu.

The two MIUs at Ludlow and Oswestry, and the new-look UTCs at Bridgnorth and Whitchurch, offer a walk-in service and do not require appointments or referral.

The MIU in Welshpool is currently appointment-only, and contact details can be found on the Powys Teaching Health Board website.

Dr Arne Rose, Medical Director at SaTH, said:

“The safety and wellbeing of all of our patients is our priority. These temporary changes will make sure we are looking after patients who need our care for urgent but non-life threatening situations, minor injuries and illnesses, and also those that need more specialist care in our A&E departments.

“We know some patients have expressed concern about taking up the time of our doctors and nurses in our hospitals at this difficult time, and we are very grateful for their support. It is very important that people continue to access urgent care when they need it, and we hope the availability of the Urgent Treatment Centres encourage them to do so.”

Jane Povey, Medical Director at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said:

“We would like to thank people in advance for their understanding, and reassure them that these changes are temporary. They are being managed in a planned way with the best interests of local people and our staff in mind.”

Patients with coronavirus symptoms should follow the government advice by staying at home and using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do. NHS 111 will direct those people with symptoms requiring healthcare support to attend the emergency departments at either of the two hospitals.

Anyone requiring medical assistance outside of the opening hours of the two UTCs and two MIUs should call NHS 111 and in an emergency, 999.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust logo

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust logo

Among other measures taken by SaTH to help reduce the spread of coronavirus are the suspension of visiting at both hospitals and a restriction in the number of entrances open to the public at the two hospitals.

You can play your part by following the Government’s advice:

  • Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
  • If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
  • Wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • Do not meet others, even friends or family that do not live with you.

Please remember that you can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

ENDS

Further information 

  • The Urgent Treatment Centres will open at 9am on Thursday 16 April until further notice. However, anyone seeking treatment for minor illness or injury at either RSH or PRH in the days following the suspension will still be treated.
  • The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, and is the main provider of acute hospital care for almost 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. Patients come to us from Telford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Newtown and Welshpool in Powys.
  • The Trust continues to work with its partners in health and social care in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales to develop patient-focused services that meet the needs of our communities.
  • If you have any feedback about local healthcare, independent support and signposting is available from Healthwatch Shropshire, Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin and Powys Community Health Council (CHC):

 

Keep informed and sign up to our daily Coronavirus email updates 

Shropshire Council wants to keep you as up to date and informed as possible. To help us do this, we have developed a coronavirus update, that will be sent daily at 8pm via email to anyone who has signed up to our e-bulletins. 

This update includes the day’s key Shropshire Council news, and some key news from our partners, relating to coronavirus-linked issues.  Please click here to sign up for the updates.

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