A NEW Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Solihull Hospital has opened to patients.
The new £1million facility will offer residents a new minor illness and injury service for adults and children.
There will be a mixture of different clinical professionals delivering the service, including emergency nurses, GPs and advanced nurse practitioners.
It replaces the Lode Lane Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) which was closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to make the site Covid-free and allow elective surgery to continue.
In 2021 Councillor Karen Grinsell, deputy leader of Solihull Council launched a petition – which attracted more than 10,000 signatures, to re-open the MIU to ease pressures on GP practices, West Midlands Ambulance Service and residents having to travel miles to seek medical attention.
However health bosses decided to revamp the unit into a UTC.
Works began in January and the unit was handed over by Manton Building Contractors on Friday (June 23).
Since then, staff from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Badger Group have turned the UTC into a fully-functioning clinical space, which will treat hundreds of patients every week.
Coun Grinsell said: “Following the temporary closure of the MIU during the Covid-19 pandemic, I am extremely pleased to see the opening of this new and improved urgent treatment service.
“Solihull Hospital is a much-valued asset to the people of Solihull and it is fantastic to see the investment that is going into the site now, and planned for the future.
“The re-opening of the unit will ease the pressure on GPs, A&E departments and West Midlands Ambulance Service.”
The UTC will provide consultation and treatment for a range of issues including suspected broken bones, sprains, cuts, stomach pains, rashes, minor burns and more.
Jonathan Brotherton, interim chief executive at UHB, said: “This marks a hugely anticipated return of an urgent care service for Solihull and I’d like to thank all the staff who have made the new Solihull UTC a reality.
“It’s a fantastic new space and we hope many patients will benefit from the UTC for years to come.
“UHB has made a clear commitment to invest in the much-loved Solihull Hospital site, with a number of further exciting initiatives happening, including a state-of-art theatre block which is due for completion Spring 2024.”
The UTC cannot treat life-threatening emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes; residents are advised to call 999 or attend their nearest accident and emergency department in these circumstances.
