Works begins on new £12m urgent treatment centre
BBCConstruction has begun on a new £12m Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) which health chiefs hope will reduce wait times in A&E.
Scheduled to open in December at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH), health bosses have said the centre will offer better experiences for patients with non-threatening illnesses and injuries.
Once completed, the new centre will replace the RUH's current UTC, which is based within A&E.
John Palmer, RUH managing director, said: "The start of construction work marks a major milestone in our plans to further improve urgent and emergency care services for our patients."
Palmer added: "Importantly, by moving the new UTC out of our emergency department, we will free up more space in our busy A&E, enabling our clinical teams there to care more effectively for seriously ill and injured patients."
Health chiefs added that the new building will improve privacy, waiting, assessment and treatment environments.
The modular buildings that will make up the facility are being provided by healthcare infrastructure providers Vanguard Healthcare Solutions.
Simon Squirrell, the company's UK business director, said: "We're delighted to be working in partnership with the RUH to deliver its new Urgent Treatment Centre."
A UTC is for urgent health problems that need attention the same day but are not life-threatening, while A&E is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies.
The hospital's current UTC and Emergency Department will remain open during construction.
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