Did you know that if you have an injury that is urgent but not life threatening, an Urgent Treatment Centre may be the best place for you to get the expert help you need?
In north Cumbria, there are two Urgent Treatment Centres – one in Penrith and one in Keswick which are open to everyone, you do not have to live in Penrith or Keswick to access them.
Many people go to A&E when their condition - such as a broken bone or a wound - could actually be treated much faster at one of our UTCs.
UTCs are equipped to diagnose and treat many of the most common ailments people go to A&E for. The A&E team has to prioritise the most serious cases first and so if your condition is less serious – like the ones listed below - a UTC is a more appropriate service for you.
Zoe Rigg is the manager of our UTCs at Keswick and Penrith.
She explains: “UTCs are places where we can treat minor injuries and minor ailments – anything that is not life threatening really. We have x-ray at Penrith from 8.30am to 4.30pm and Keswick in the mornings. It may that we can assess and treat a patient but then bring them back the next day for an x-ray.
“There is no age limit and we can treat everyone from babies to the elderly. We see a lot of things like rashes, urine infections, broken bones and chest infections. We don’t deal with patients who are having a stroke or a heart attack. People with a serious condition of this nature should dial 999.”
Conditions that can be treated at an Urgent Treatment Centre include:
- bites and stings
- cuts and grazes
- ear and throat infections
- emergency contraception
- eye problems
- minor head injuries
- minor scalds and burns
- skin infections and rashes
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
Zoe says waiting times at UTCs are often quicker than A&E: “The wait time at a UTC will probably be quicker than A&E. Obviously it depends on the footfall on any given day.
“Ambulances can refer to the UTC if the clinical decision maker agrees that is the best choice. 111 can also refer patients to us for bookable appointments. In Penrith we see the last patient at 9.45pm unless it is an absolute emergency.
“One of the benefits of the UTC is that there is disc parking and they are fairly easy to find as they are both located off main roundabouts. In bigger cities you usually find a UTC directly next to A&E so they can stream off to them. The UTCs bridge a gap in a rural area like ours as it can often be a long way to travel to A&E at the Cumberland Infirmary or the West Cumberland Hospital.”
Useful information
Keswick Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
Open daily, 8.30am to 6pm
Crosthwaite Road
Keswick
CA12 5PH
01768 245678 option 1
Penrith Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
Open daily, 8am until 10pm
Bridge Lane
Penrith
CA11 8HX
01768 245555 option 1