Plans have been revealed for a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, to help ease pressure on the Emergency Department.
The unit is due to open in Spring next year subject to planning permission, and will assess patients who arrive at the hospital with emergency conditions that are not life-threatening.
The expansion of emergency care capacity will address the rising numbers of people attending the department, reducing waiting times for those with less urgent conditions.
The team at the James Paget expect around a third of patients to be filtered to the new facility, which will include 10 consultation, treatment and observation rooms, connected to the main Emergency Department via a walkway.
There are also plans to provide timed appointments at the UTC, for patients contacting the NHS through its 111 phone/online service.
Improving emergency care delivery
James Paget Director of Operations, Ben Pritchard-Jones, said: “This is a really important project for our patients – and for improving the way in which we deliver emergency and urgent care.
“The number of people attending our Emergency Department is increasing year-on-year, which can lead to congestion in the department and long waits.
“By creating a UTC, we can help people get the right care in the right place quickly, while easing pressure on the main department, leading to a far better experience for our patients.”