Private hospital's Urgent Care Centre
The Princess Grace Hospital
An on-demand medical emergency and minor injuries service - The Urgent Care Centre - has been launched by the private Princess Grace Hospital in central London, the first of its kind for the capital.
A walk-in service, it provides clinical support for a full spectrum of urgent conditions, including treatment of soft tissue injuries and fractures, respiratory or heart problems, gastrointestinal issues, as well as neurological conditions.
The Urgent Care Centre's dedicated facilities include four treatment rooms, X-ray equipment, plaster room and a reception area, as well as access to the extensive resources of the 110-bed Princess Grace Hospital and its five sister HCA International hospitals nearby. As Susan Smith, the Princess Grace Hospital's chief executive, explains "Our consultants, surgeons and specialist nursing staff, plus the full range of on-site diagnostic imaging facilities - including some of the most advanced equipment in the country - will be quickly available, on-site, for patients at the Urgent Care Centre".
This on-demand emergency service requires no prior appointment and is open every day from 08.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs. Patients can expect to be seen by a doctor within 15 minutes of arrival at the Centre's reception desk. Designed to appeal to people who value the time-saving and quality environment of a private hospital based clinical service, the Centre delivers rapid, expert medical attention to patients on the ground floor of The Princess Grace Hospital at Nottingham Place, just off the Marylebone Road
There is an initial £100 registration and assessment fee and patients are given a price list outlining the cost of any additional services and facilities that may be required as part of a treatment plan. Payments can be made in cash or by credit or debit card.
People experiencing chest pains or breathing problems, for example, requiring a series of tests or individuals needing an x-ray for possible bone damage and who do not require an emergency ambulance, can attend the Urgent Care Centre just as easily as an NHS Emergency department.
"Being centrally located near both Baker Street and Great Portland Street underground stations and close to Harley Street, the emergency facility is easily accessible. There is the added certainty of being seen quickly by qualified staff for assessment and if necessary treatment, or a consultation with a specialist to review and admit as required," Sue Smith explains.
"Our research amongst medical colleagues, individuals - particularly the self-employed - large employers and other businesses such as hotels, shows that they value a one-stop, fast-track medical service with direct access to hospital facilities for all medical specialities," says Susan Smith.
Public demand for hospital emergency departments has risen dramatically and research last year for the NHS by MORI ("Interest in Medical Centres for Commuters") indicates that people working in the capital will appreciate having rapid expert medical attention with no appointments necessary. "That research referred to possible free medical centres at or near to mainline rail stations, but significantly it underlines the fact that people do want a more immediate, responsive service when they feel unwell or suffer an injury and a service which is convenient for their life-style", Susan Smith adds.
"The private sector has always offered a choice for people who wish to rapidly receive individual assessment and treatment and the Urgent Care Centre is well placed to provide a medical emergency and minor injury service as an extension to the established, expert and extensive services available at The Princess Grace Hospital", she points out.
If for some reason, someone cannot be treated, doctors at the Centre will assess the condition, stabilise and refer the person to the NHS on an emergency basis, as appropriate. The Centre will not deal with major accidents, polytrauma and multiple injury cases, where NHS Emergency Departments excel.
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