University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is calling on the public to make use of the city’s Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) ahead of the next round of strike action involving junior doctors starting Friday (11 August) and ending Tuesday (15 August).

Based at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton, the UTC can see and treat patients with a variety of medical needs including:

Stitch and close wounds
Remove splinters
Remove foreign bodies from ears, noses etc
Dress minor wounds, cuts and grazes
Apply plaster of paris to broken limbs
X-ray arms and legs
Sprains and strains
Broken bones to arms, lower leg and feet
Wound infections
Minor burns
Minor head injuries
Insect and animal bites
Minor eye injuries
Minor injuries to back, shoulder and chest

This call to action is a bid to reduce demand on the emergency department (ED) at UHS, which is anticipating exceptional pressure during this period, while also saving patients hours of waiting when they could be seen and treated quicker elsewhere.

Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at UHS, said: “Our advice to the public, particularly during the upcoming strike action, is to make use of the city’s Urgent Treatment Centre.

“The UTC team are made up of skilled practitioners and GPs who can see and treat patients for a range of minor injuries and illnesses. Their waiting times can be considerably less than our ED and they can also refer or direct to the most appropriate service if required.

“Our busy ED will always prioritise patients with life or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses to deliver life-saving care which can result in long delays for those with less serious conditions.

“If your condition is less serious you may be asked to seek treatment in another setting, like an Urgent Treatment Centre.

He added: “Other services such as 111 online and local pharmacies are also excellent at giving advice and guidance and we urge the public to make the right choice during this busy time.”

The Urgent Treatment Centre in Southampton is open every day until 10pm for all NHS patients, no appointments required, last patient accepted at 9.30pm. For more information visit https://www.southamptonutc.nhs.uk/

Patients can also access an Urgent Treatment Centre based in Lymington who assess and treat or refer acute presentations with minor injuries and minor illnesses. Their opening hours are between 8am and 9pm, seven days a week. For more information visit https://lymingtonutc.nhs.uk/

Visit the Urgent Treatment Centre based at Royal South Hants Hospital, Level B, Britons Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YG or call on 0333 999 7613.

Hospital trust calls on public to make use of city's Urgent Treatment Centre ahead of doctors' strike action