A PURPOSE-built Urgent Care Centre will open at the Ulster Hospital next week.
The facility opens on Thursday, June 19 at 8am and will focus on assessing and treating a range of minor injuries as well as patients requiring urgent care.
It replaces the current Minor Injury Unit, operating since September 2023, which shuts its doors for good at 6pm on June 18.
From June 19 patients with minor injuries will be seen in the new Urgent Care Centre, which is located in the level below the Emergency Department.
It can be accessed through the Critical Care Unit at the rear of the hospital site, beside the multi-storey car park. Signs will be in place to guide patients to the new centre.
The new facility will operate a walk-in and phone first service.
It is designed to treat a range of minor injuries, such as broken bones, burns and scalds, bites, nosebleeds, cuts, sprains and wounds and other minor injuries.
The phone first triage service will be available Monday to Friday from 8am – 6pm, offering patients an appointment if appropriate. It can be accessed by calling (028) 9151 0110.
Welcoming the new development, the Trust’s Director of Unscheduled Care, Marc Neil said: “We now have fantastic facilities in which to deliver urgent and emergency care at the Ulster Hospital.
“It has been a hugely significant investment by the Trust to deliver this brand new facility. It will be excellent for our patients and for our staff.”
Clinical Director of Emergency Medicine, Dr Andrew Dobbin added: “The new Urgent Care Centre represents a major investment in how we provide timely care for patients with minor injuries.
“By locating it alongside the Emergency Department, we are improving access, patient flow and the overall experience.
“This facility will allow us to treat patients more efficiently in a modern, purpose-built environment.”
Patients attending the Urgent Care Centre who have mobility issues or cannot walk from the car park, can be dropped off at the main Emergency Department entrance and take the lift down one level to access the Centre.
