Construction has commenced on a new £12 million urgent treatment centre (UTC) at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath, marking a significant development amid concerns over hospital overcrowding and pressure on emergency services. Work began on Monday, September 28, to relocate the UTC from within the emergency department to a dedicated building.
Currently housed inside the hospital’s emergency department, the new standalone UTC is designed to reduce waiting times and ensure patients receive the specific urgent care they require more promptly. Urgent treatment centres cater to non-life-threatening conditions such as broken fingers or deep cuts.
John Palmer, managing director at the RUH, described the project as “a major milestone” for improving urgent and emergency care services. He stated: “The new Urgent Treatment Centre will make a really positive difference to our patients and underlines our ambitions to deliver more efficient and effective care while improving access through investing in our estate.”
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Palmer also highlighted the benefits of moving the UTC out of the emergency department, explaining that it would free up vital space in the busy A&E to better care for seriously ill and injured patients. “But this is about more than just a new building – we are also transforming the way we work to ensure we continue to deliver the highest quality care for our patients as soon as they arrive at our front door,” he added.
This development follows a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report which recently identified overcrowding at RUH as creating significant risks to patient safety, citing blocked fire escapes and obstructed children’s resuscitation facilities as examples. At that time, RUH acknowledged the unprecedented demand on its emergency department and confirmed plans for the UTC as part of its improvement strategy.
In response to the CQC findings, RUH stated it has increased senior decision-makers in the Emergency Department overnight, enhanced overnight security, and improved oversight of emergency access points to keep them clear. It is also working closely with partner services, including the Avon and Wiltshire Partnership, to ensure patients with mental health needs are cared for appropriately.
Collaboration with the national Getting it Right First Time team has led to reviewed working practices and refreshed internal professional standards. RUH emphasised positive aspects noted by the CQC, such as low unplanned reattendance rates and appropriate escalation of critical cases. Staff were praised for their compassionate care, particularly for patients with autism and learning disabilities.
RUH is experiencing record demand, with ambulance arrivals increasing by 25% and emergency department visits by 13%, coinciding with the ambulance service’s new Rapid Release Protocol. The hospital is actively working with South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust to manage these pressures and prevent overcrowding and corridor care this winter.
RUH anticipates being one of the most improved trusts nationally on the four-hour A&E target by the year’s end. The new UTC is expected to open by late December, with the current centre remaining operational during construction. Plans also include a complete rebuild of the Emergency Department over the following three years.
In concluding, RUH expressed gratitude to its staff for their exceptional efforts and to partner organisations for their continued support.