Team work makes the dream work

The team at Sevenoaks Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is a finalist in the urgent and emergency care initiative of the year category.

Sevenoaks Hospital’s minor injury unit became a UTC in December 2020 and aims to improve the urgent care patient journey as well as enhance NHS staff experience.

Operational Lead Hayley Merralls said: “We give patients the right care at the right time and in the best place. We now have doctors as well as practitioners available, which makes the best use of everyone’s skills.

“Patients now have fixed appointments so we can better manage their needs and also our time.”

Meanwhile, Medway and Swale Integrated Care Partnership Team is a finalist in the best acute sector partnership category.

Dawn Gaiger, Operational Lead for minor injury units, said: “This forms part of the work to improve access and the use of our MIUs and the 111 service; in preparation for changing our MIUs to urgent treatment centres. It’s very exciting to be nominated, whatever the outcome, we are proud to be part of the NHS.”

And what do our patients say? “Thanks to the 111 booking system, I could wait at home until my appointment rather than sitting in a waiting room.”

“Timely care, professional and safe. I like the UTC set up.”