Urgent Care – What to do? Where to go? Follow up

In July 2018 we spoke to 555 people to find out if they were aware of the Minor Injury and Illness Unit, prior to the units name change to “Urgent Treatment Centre”. We wanted to know what people knew of the unit, and how the name change might affect them.

We found that 42% of people would go to an Urgent Treatment Centre for issues they thought were “urgent”, such as a heart attack.

We recommend that Bucks Integrated Care System:

• Promote what services the Urgent Treatment Centre does and does not provide. Particularly in context of the name change.
• Put in place arrangements for people who may attend the ‘Urgent Treatment Centre’ for more serious emergency conditions. This includes mental health issues.
• Promote the opening times of the Urgent Treatment Centre. Especially to South Bucks and Aylesbury Vale residents.
• Assess the availability of X-Ray facilities at the Urgent Treatment Centre.
• Promote NHS 111 as the first step in accessing urgent care, particularly to South Bucks residents.
• Provide as much information as possible to patients on likely waiting times at the Urgent Treatment Centre.

We wrote to Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership to find out what progress had been made in regard to our recommendations. We are pleased to know that they have taken actions to address the concerns we raised.

Read the full report below.

Urgent Care – What to do? Where to go? Follow up