Urgent care centre moves into hospital

The urgent care centre was open for more than two years but did not have the desired effect on cutting waits at the hospital

An urgent care centre is set to open at Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital, moving from a location in the town centre.

Patients can walk in to the the facility but are being urged to phone 111 or use 111.nhs.uk to get advice from medical professionals as to whether they should attend.

The previous centre in Broad Street Mall allowed people with an urgent but not life-threatening condition to get treatment with no booking, but patients could also pre-book appointments.

It had been hoped that it would cut the number of people turning up at the hospital for treatment but it did not have the desired effect.

Figures collected in the first year of the service showed that even when more people turned up at the centre looking for help, they were matched by similar rises at the hospital.

The Broad Street Health Centre, which is also in the Broad Street Mall, will still be open for registered patients.

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