Healthwatch Enfield has written to Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asking them to keep the urgent care centre (UCC) at Chase Farm Hospital open until 10pm and not to proceed with the proposal to close an hour earlier. The watchdog body has also uncovered confusion about the last time that patients can arrive and the roles of the UCC.Chase Farm Hospital urgent care centre
The urgent care centre (UCC) was set up in 2013 to replace the hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) department. The changes, which also included the creation of an older people's assessment unit and a paediatric unit, were made as part of the highly controversial "Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Clinical Strategy". The paediatric unit closed in 2017, the older people's unit remains open daily from 9am to 7pm. Since its inception, the UCC has seen more than 180,000 patients.
The following information is taken from the Royal Free website:
The urgent care centre (UCC) at Chase Farm Hospital is there if you, or your child, needs medical treatment or advice for a minor illness or injury that isn’t life-threatening.
This could include:
- sprains, strains, and broken bones
- minor burns and scalds
- minor head and eye injuries
- bites and stings
- minor illnesses
You don’t need to have an appointment – just turn up and you’ll be seen by the appropriate healthcare professional. The UCC is open from 8am-10pm every day. The UCC is located on the ground floor of the hospital near to the multi-storey car park.
We strive to see, treat and discharge 80% of patients from the UCC within two hours of arrival. At times of high demand, we may not be able to manage this and ask for your understanding and patience. We will always treat patients in the order of clinical need.
There is no emergency department at Chase Farm Hospital. If you require treatment that cannot be managed at the UCC, you will be transferred to the emergency department at either Barnet Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital.
For further advice on where to seek urgent medical advice search “emergency and urgent care” on the NHS Choices website.
