Hospital’s 'Urgent Treatment Centre' to close

Saturday 11 July 2020

The Urgent Treatment Centre, which was set up to ease pressure on A&E during the pandemic, will close from next week due to low levels of covid-19 infections and easing lockdown measures.

Based in the hospital's Gwyneth Huelin Wing, the facility opened on 14 April and was run by GPs to treat minor injuries and illnesses that would normally be handled in the Emergency Department.

With covid-19 measures easing, and GPs now returning to their practices, Patrick Armstrong, Medical Director for Health and Community Services, has announced that the facility will now close from Monday.

Pictured: The Urgent Treatment Centre, which was set up to ensure that A&E treated only genuine emergencies, will close from Monday. 

He said: “We hope that islanders will find this as another positive sign that our hospital services are returning to some level of normality.

“Should covid-19 cases rise, and the Government advises us of changes to the lockdown measures, it will be absolutely vital that our emergency assessment capacity is enhanced once more.

“We have learned a lot of very important lessons over the past few months to enable us to quickly support covid-19 activity.” 

Pictured: Patrick Armstrong hopes islanders will see the closure as a "positive sign" that hospital services are "returning to some level of normality". 

From Monday 13 July:

• Islanders in need of emergency treatment are advised to go to the Emergency Department (also known as A&E or casualty), which deals with life-threatening emergencies, minor injuries and serious illness
• Patients seeking to access GP care should not attend the Emergency Department but should contact their GP
• Islanders who are attending Hospital appointments or visiting patients, are requested to use the Gwyneth Huelin entrance as The Parade entrance remains closed
• Islanders seeking GP treatment for chronic or longstanding illness or minor illness should contact their regular doctor

To stop the spread of covid-19, the Emergency Department will only allow patients and any necessary carers to enter. Protective masks will be provided and physical distancing observed.

Islanders should not use the Emergency Department as an alternative to their GP. If a patient has a non-urgent issue, they will be redirected to the most appropriate care provider.

Pictured: Patients and carers entering the Emergency Department will be provided with protective masks. 

The Government is advising islanders that busy times in the Emergency Department include after 17:00 and weekends and that those with emergency problems should seek care as soon as possible. In severe emergencies, you should call 999.

There is also an Out of Hours GP service (01534 445445) that provides telephone advice from 18:00 every day. This may include asking patients to see a GP at the hospital or to arrange a home visit.

Pharmacies are also available to give advice and treatment for minor illness. For dental issues, islanders should contact their regular surgery in the first instance.