Urgent treatment centre at Lymington Hospital remodels reception and entrance areas to create an additional assessment room

Increasing patient numbers has resulted in an expansion of the urgent treatment centre based at Lymington Hospital.

The UTC comprises a GP-led team of nurse practitioners, specialist paramedics and healthcare support workers who assess and treat, or refer minor injuries for patients of all ages.

By moving its reception to the main hospital atrium, a space has been created for a new treatment room, which was officially opened on Wednesday.

Patient access to the centre has also changed and entry is now through the main hospital doors.

New signs designed and funded by Lymington Hospital Friends will support patients finding their way to the new reception.

UTC service manager Mandy Hawkins said: “I’m delighted to have worked in collaboration with NHS trust Southern Health to repurpose the reception room to create more clinical treatment space at the UTC.

“This will result in faster treatment times, shorter wait times for patients and overall better patient care.”

The centre is open from 8am until 9pm, seven days a week, and treats around 3,000 patients each month.

It is run for the NHS by private company, the PHL group.

PHL Group CEO Ross Brand said: “I am proud to see the UTC grow from strength to strength, always innovating to find solutions to improve patient care, and preparing for the increased patient numbers that are expected during the summer months.”