Newark Urgent Treatment Centre longer opening hours to go live next week confirms Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust

After a long delay, new, extended opening hours at Newark Urgent Treatment Centre are set to come into effect.

From Monday (November 11), the Urgent Treatment Centre will be open from 8am to 10.30pm seven days a week — although the last patient admitted will be at 9.30pm.

The change means that the centre, at Newark Hospital, will open for an hour earlier in the morning, and remain open half an hour longer in the evening than at present.

The extended hours have been introduced in anticipation of an expected increase in demand over the winter months.

The centre, which is operated by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provides urgent care and non-life-threatening treatment for injuries or conditions, such as cuts, simple broken bones, wounds, minor burns and minor head, eye and back injuries.

It differs from an Accident and Emergency service, which are open 24-hours and cater for severe and life-threatening emergencies such as heavy bleeding, choking and seizures.

Victoria McGregor-Riley, director of strategy and system development at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “We welcome the launch of new, extended opening hours at Newark Urgent Treatment Centre which will provide ongoing high-quality urgent care for the people of Newark and surrounding areas.

“The change means that the Urgent Treatment Centre will be open for 14.5 hours per day, which not only exceeds the 12-hour minimum national standard for Newark Urgent Treatment Centres set by NHS England, but also the current operating hours.

“The Newark Urgent Treatment Centre is one of a wide range of healthcare options available for patients in the area. If anyone needs medical help and they’re not sure which service is best, we’d advise using the 111 service online, or by phone.”

The current, temporary opening hours were put in place at the start of the Covid pandemic and have been used for the last four and a half years.

Earlier this year, NHS leaders made the decision to extend the opening hours following feedback from residents, stakeholders, and clinical input from healthcare experts.

NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest Hospitals have said they will continue to assess the impact of the extended operating hours, such as monitoring usage and reviewing patient feedback.

The NHS added that people in Newark and the surrounding area who need healthcare have access to a wide range of appropriate treatment options.

They suggest using the 24 hour NHS111 service to receive the quickest way to receive medical help, which can be accessed online or by phone.

Depending on what you need, you might be advised to self-medicate at home or be offered one of these options:

• See a pharmacist for help with a minor illness

• Contact your GP surgery

• Get urgent specialist dental or mental health support

• Book a callback from a nurse

• See an out-of-hours GP

• Go to an Urgent Treatment Centre

• Call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency

Pharmacists can also provide advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help.

Under the Pharmacy First scheme, they may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without the need to see a GP.

In a medical emergency, call 999. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.