Enter and View: John Radcliffe Hospital Urgent Care Centre

Healthwatch Oxfordshire undertook an Enter and View visit to the John Radcliffe Hospital Urgent Care Centre in January 2019. In early 2018, Healthwatch Oxfordshire heard that many patients were presenting at the Emergency Department with ailments more appropriate to a GP visit. They were interested in finding out whether there was any reason they were not presenting at their GP or Out of Hours services. They spoke to twenty-five patients and four members of staff.

Findings

The Urgent Care Centre is an important service which is used to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department.  Clinical staff said that the Urgent Care Centre sees between twelve and thirty-two patients per shift.

Most patients that Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to were advised to attend the Emergency Department by a GP or NHS 111.  At the Urgent Care Centre, they were then screened and referred to a GP, which suggests that a review of the 111 and GP triage process may be useful.   There was also some confusion from the public about accessing extended/out of hours GP services.  People were happy with the service that they received at the Urgent Care Centre.

Recommendations

There are 3 recommendations in the report about information to patients about the purpose of the Urgent Care Centre.  There is a detailed response to the recommendations from the provider in the report.