NHS urgent treatment centre rated outstanding

Lymington UTC delivers "bespoke" and "holistic" care, inspectors said

An NHS urgent treatment centre (UTC), which is run by a private health services contractor, has been rated outstanding by inspectors.

Lymington UTC in Hampshire delivers "bespoke" and "holistic" care, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

The centre offers quick access to X-rays, a two-week referral for suspected cancer cases and goes "above and beyond the scope of urgent treatment centres", the inspectors' report added.

The GP-led service is provided by PHL Group Ltd at Lymington New Forest Hospital.

The centre is based at Lymington New Forest Hospital

The CQC report said: "Feedback from people, relatives, professionals and external stakeholders who worked closely with the service and the overall experience of using the service was exceptional.

"We identified there was an exceptional holistic approach to the patient journey."

The inspection, in June, upgraded the service's previous "good" rating.

Neil Cox, CQC deputy regional director, said: "People who attended the service with suspected pelvic and hip fractures were able to be diagnosed by X-ray at Lymington New Forest Hospital reducing the time and travel required to attend the nearest emergency department.

“The service had also initiated two-week wait referrals for investigations for suspected cancer."

The walk-in service treats minor illnesses and injuries 365 days a year from 08:00 to 21:00, helping to reduce pressure on accident and emergency departments.