Plea to Derbyshire residents to use 111 and UTC services to ease the burden on emergency departments
Derbyshire and Derby residents are being urged to think 111 and UTC for their non-life-threatening health needs as part of easing the pressure on big emergency departments (ED) and signposting people to the most appropriate care for their needs.
People living in the area have access to five Urgent Treatment Centres (known as UTCs) which can treat a whole range of urgent but not life-threatening illnesses and injuries for which people seek same-day care.
All five UTCs – based in Derby, Ripley, Ilkeston, Buxton and Darley Dale near Matlock – are open 8am – 8pm and staffed by paramedics and senior emergency nurse practitioners to treat everything from broken bones to cuts and gashes, minor eye infections, insect bites, bumps and bruises, scalds, wound infections and much more.
Health bosses want to raise public awareness of these local UTC services, especially now pressure on acute hospital services has never been greater, and also to encourage anyone with a non-life-threatening health emergency to contact NHS 111 (phone or online) before they set off anywhere for help.
The introduction of NHS 111 triage and same-day appointments ensures patients are quickly signposted to the best place for their injury or illness, do not have wasted journeys and ensures the NHS team is ready for them on arrival.
William Jones, chief operating officer for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are being urged to protect the NHS and we have seen how busy the big acute hospitals are with treating Covid-19 patients. We can all help by making sure people in Derby and Derbyshire know there are these alternative UTC NHS facilities locally ready to look after their non-life-threatening health emergencies, where they can get the help they need without a long wait. This is one practical way in which we can all ease the pressure on EDs and acute hospital staff.
“Even better, people can use the NHS 111 service first and get quickly in touch with someone trained to assess their problem, either on the phone or online, and give them a same-day appointment at a local UTC if that’s the best place for their needs, which cuts out any waiting around or uncertainty about whether they have come to the right place.”
The Urgent Treatment Centres are at the following locations:
• Ilkeston Community Hospital, DE7 8LN
• Ripley Community Hospital, DE5 3HE
• Buxton Hospital, SK17 9NJ
• Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale, DE4 2JD
• Derby Urgent Treatment Centre, Entrance C, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GD.
Melissa Dalton, clinical lead for urgent treatment services at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust which runs the four county UTCs, said: “We’d definitely encourage patients to contact 111 first before jumping in the car.
“It is much better to get the right advice quickly and be given an appointment to attend an urgent treatment centre that same day if they need it. It means our clinical teams are ready for the patient or family as soon as they arrive and it gives patients more peace of mind that they are doing the right thing.
“On top of the stress of being worried about someone’s health you don’t want the anxiety of wondering if you are travelling to the right service.”
More News From Amber Valley Info
| News Have you seen missing girl Megan From Ripley Have you seen Megan? The 15-year-old has been reported missing from her home in Ripley. read more | |
| A night at the museum for the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs Great British Car Journey, the award-winning classic car museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire, hosted the pack for a very special read more | |
| Alfreton chapel with planning for redevelopment as two homes goes under the hammer The former Methodist chapel in the village of Westhouses near Alfreton is to go up for auction thi read more | |
| Love Sadler Gate Promises Blooming Good Time at Spring Market Love Sadler Gate, the collective of independent businesses in the iconic Derby Cathedral Quarter street, will be holdin read more | |
| Lord Burlington opens iconic Heage Windmill On Saturday around 120 guests welcomed Lord Burlington to Heage Windmill for the Official Opening of the mill following extensive repairs read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Cold Callers claiming to be working on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Policehave seen and increase in reports of 'cold callers' where people are claiming to be working on behal read more | |
| Subscriptions For Amber Valley Borough Councils 2024 Garden Waste Service Are Now Open The garden waste collection service is available to all residents in Amber Valley except for r read more | |
| Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley boosting the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area. read more | |
| Trent Barton Buses - Extension Of The £2 Single Fare Cap Trent Barton Buses have confirmed their participation in the extension of the £2 single fare cap until the end o read more | |
| Crich Tramway Village Looking For An Engineering Manager The successful candidate for this post will have excellent management skills gained whilst working in a practical workshop e read more | |
