Forum Topic

West Middlesex 24 Hour walk in Urgent Care Centre

Over the years we have made good use (!) of A&E at the West Middlesex.A gardening accident a week ago needed a tetanus booster and stitching and possibly a trek over to Teddington so I was very pleased to hear about the new walk in centre based at the West Midd'.  First visit (yes, gardening is a dangerous business) I was in and out inside an hour, second visit antibiotics and in and out in under two hours.  Very nice atmosphere, super friendly staff and air conditioning that works a treat!  :-)http://www.hrch.nhs.uk/our-services/clinics-health-centres/hounslow-ucc/hounslow-ucc/

Sarah Felstead ● 4728d15 Comments

They could also try using e-mail and texts as most GP practices and dentists do these days, they contact you to remind you of your appointment the day or so before. Hospitals are still in the dark ages as far as communications are concerned, no wonder so many people don't turn up. Also I've actually been there when there's been a long overrun waiting for apppointments and people who are a little late have been turned away and made to make a new appointment. This even though the people with appointment times in front of them are still waiting. Why? That's really stupid, as long as you're there when the comsultant or whoever is ready does it really matter?

Vanessa Smith ● 4720d

I do appreciate your comments on the re-arrangement of appointments however for every appointment that someone does not turn upto a patient who really does need to be seen has to wait. As you suggested before it boils down to lack of communication as far as appointments are concerned, it needs to go back to staff not computers which are only as good as the person who inputs the information. Management are not as efficient as hospitals need.

Dawn Hardy ● 4720d

"I heard on the box the other day that a supposed 250000 outpatients had missed their appointments these people should be charged at least £20 each unless they have a serious excuse this could be put to good use for the NHS."I don't doubt those figures BUT the other side of the coin is how many times the NHS re-arranges, re-organises clinics or just cancels appointments. My husband had so many changes for an opthalmology appointment at Ashford as the appointments went back and forth over the months, he didn't know which was the correct date in the end! Also West Middx. are really appalling for this. I've had appointments for the Endocrinology dept. five times, not counting the time I pitched up at the appointed already re-arranged once appointment, to find out that the clinic had been cancelled yet again and I hadn't been informed! In spite of letters to the Trust Chair and the NHS Ombudsman all I got was total cr*p and apologies - a terrible service and they couldn't careless. Oh! and by the way they've just done it again................I don't mind if the suggestion works both ways - I'll take £20 for MY inconvenience.

Vanessa Smith ● 4721d

That is the question it seems that if the Doctor makes the appointment then they foot the bill,I am probably very old fashioned in thinking that our health should not be measured in monetary terms. I heard on the box the other day that a supposed 250000 outpatients had missed their appointments these people should be charged at least £20 each unless they have a serious excuse this could be put to good use for the NHS.

Dawn Hardy ● 4721d

Don't expect any improvements anytime soon - Jeremy Hunt - Health Secretary - WTF? Proof, if ever it was needed, that Cameron doesn't give a stuff about our NHS. This man is a stand out idiot among morons.

Vanessa Smith ● 4721d

It begs the question why the hospital didn't do the other tests while she was there, seems to be such a waste of time and money. Hospitals need to really get some 'joined up' thinking as half the time one department doesn't seem to talk to another and it causes delays and costs money.

Vanessa Smith ● 4721d

I entirely agree with you Vanessa,an awful lot of people with colds or sore throats take up valuable space in our A&E dept purely because they think it is faster than getting an appointment with their GP.

Dawn Hardy ● 4721d

Do these Urgent Care Centres actually work, a dear friend of ours went to her Doctors last week was referred to West Middx, tests were taken to ensure that she was not having a heart attack and thankfully she was admitted however the next day she was discharged with a letter for her Doctor to book an appointment for more tests.Angina maybe?It would appear that Hospitals and GP's have been put into a difficult position on who pays for these tests, it is something that should never have happened. All of our working life we all contribute toward National Insurance which hopefully contributes greatly to the NHS. Everyone of us need at sometime in our lives a Hospital since 1948 we have had that, and now yet again we are expected to sit quietly and have our Hospitals closed because of lack of money.

Dawn Hardy ● 4721d

I think I am having one of those strange moments.  Maybe I should start the thread all over again!The West Middx used to only have A&E - and was stuffed with all comers.  By positioning this urgent care centre beside A&E people are filtered to the right urgent care provider - next door without delay to A&E at one extreme and back to their Dr at the other.  Siting the urgent care centre beside A&E makes good sense so hopefully this will be repeated at all hospitals?

Sarah Felstead ● 4723d

This is good news about the Urgent Care Centre which illustrates that the NHS is continuing to improve under the present Government.

David Giles ● 4724d

Yes Sarah - but I was referring to A&Es not this centre.

Vanessa Smith ● 4725d

I think that is the point of the Urgent care centre next to A&E.  The link above says"An Urgent Care Centre provides care and treatment for patients with non life threatening injuries and illnesses that require immediate attention, such as infections, rashes, fractures, stomach upsets, burns or sprains. For less urgent cases, the centre helps patients access a service closer to home such as their GP."If they think your complaint needs referral back to a GP they do so after assessment by a triage nurse.

Sarah Felstead ● 4725d

I thought the closures were concerned mainly with A&E departments, which seems really stupid given that there are more and more people who need treatment. Also the hospitals could, and perhaps should, weed out the idiots who pitch up at an A&E with something that could wait until they can see their G.P.

Vanessa Smith ● 4726d

This is a new facility at the West Middlesex, Dawn. It would make no sense to introduce it if they were planning to scrap it again soon.

Susan Kelly ● 4726d

Great news however if the other heartless proposals go through for Charing X,Hammersmith,Ealing also Central Middlesex how long do you think we will have West Mid.Apparently on the News this morning our government have seen a modicum of common sense on their decision to save 280 Million Pounds of Aid to India who have their own SPACE PROGRAMME. It is to be hoped that this saving will be put to good use on reducing the 1 Billion Pound deficit in the NHS.

Dawn Hardy ● 4726d