We’ve extended our opening hours over the New Year period to help ease pressure on the local A & E

Company news

Dec 30, 2014

Opening hours are being extended at the St Mary’s NHS Treatment Centre in Portsmouth for the next few days to ease pressure on the Emergency Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital.

The centre, which is run by Care UK for the NHS, has a Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit which normally closes at 10pm.

But it will remain open until 11pm on Tuesday 30 December,  2am on Thursday (New Year’s Day), and then 11pm again on Thursday, Friday (Jan 2), and Saturday (Jan 3)

• Tuesday Dec 30: 7.30am – 11pm
• Wednesday Dec 31: 7.30am through until 2am Thursday
• Thursday Jan 1: 8am until 11pm
• Friday Jan 2: 7.30am until 11pm
• Saturday Jan 3: 8am until 11pm.

Patients who arrive at the Queen Alexandra Emergency Department will be seen by medical staff in the usual way, assessed, and the less serious cases will be asked if they would consider going to the treatment centre instead.

Richard Samuel, Chief Officer for both Fareham and Gosport and South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), said: “There is always extra pressure on the NHS at this time of year and this year is proving no exception.

“We are continually putting out messages asking people to consider the various options available to them if they feel unwell, which obviously include the walk-in facilities at St Mary’s.

“Some patients who go to ED will be asked to consider going to St Mary’s. This will be entirely voluntary. But they could be seen much faster and if they do go they will be freeing up valuable staffing resources at ED for the most serious cases.

“If patients do decide to remain at ED, they will still be seen in the normal way – but the most urgent cases will be prioritised.

“We just want to remind people that there is an excellent facility at St Mary’ and inform them that the opening hours are being extended for the next few days to hopefully encourage more people with less serious health conditions or injuries to take that option.

“Of course we’ve also got the NHS 111 service working well in this area and our local pharmacies are a great resource for advice and helpful information.”

The Minor Injuries and Illnesses unit at St Mary’s can deal with all minor injuries and illnesses, including cuts, bumps and grazes, burns, strains, sprains, bites, ear, throat and minor skin infections, eye conditions, stomach pains and suspected fractures.  

To find out more, visit www.careuk.com/st-marys-minor-injuries-unit-walk-centre.