10 common reasons to go to Walk-in or Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)
First of all. Let’s start with the basics.
What is a Walk-in or Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)
They are designed to take the burden off NHS A&Es by providing a facility to treat more minor complaints such as cuts and scrapes, bruises, small burns, wound infections and other ‘smaller’ issues.
You do not need an appointment to turn up to one of them. They are very useful if you have one locally (Google your nearest one) and many consider them underused.
You may see a GP or other doctor, a specialised experienced nurse..
If needed, they can discuss your care with other hospital doctors, including consultants, who are supported by registrars and junior (resident) doctors.
In other words, you can walk in, right off the street, to your local centre. They are usually open during daytime hours – i.e. 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. After this time, you should attend A&E; but only if it absolutely cannot wait until the morning.
So. What are 10 common reasons to go to a Walk-in or Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)?
- Mild chest pain
- Mild abdominal pain
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen leg (DVT?)
- Minor injuries – in this way they are similar to minor injury/illness units (see below)
- Minor illnesses – ditto
- Back pain – especially acute (recent) back pain
- Getting emergency contraception
- Getting an emergency prescription.
A full list can be found here on the NHS website.
Overlap with Minor Illness/Injury Units (MIUs)
MIUs are especially useful for the following conditions:
- Minor injuries
- Minor illnesses
- Sprains and strains
- Minor broken bones, e.g. hands, elbows and lower arms, ankles
- Wound infections
- Minor burns and scalds
- Minor head injuries
- Insect and animal bites
- Minor eye problems and injuries.
There is considerable (considerable) overlap between these and MIUs [“why does the NHS have so many terms for similar things? It’s confusing” We don’t know and you are right. MyHSN Ed].
What illnesses can a Walk-in or UTC not deal with?
They cannot treat illnesses such as severe chest or abdominal pain, strokes, significant bleeding, or pregnancy problems. Also, babies under one cannot be treated there.
Check their opening hours before your go to your local one.
Summary
We have described 10 common reasons to go to a Walk-in and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCSs). They are very similar to Minor Injury/Illness Units (MIUs). So the types of conditions dealt with at one can largely be dealt with by the other.
