A NEW treatment centre will be coming to Southampton this summer.

The Southampton Urgent Treatment Centre will replace the Minor Injuries Unit in the Fanshawe Wing of the Royal South Hants Hospital.

The urgent-treatment centres have been established by the government to help reduce the number of people visiting A&E departments unnecessarily, with 150 being used nationally.

The Southampton UTC will be open seven days a week, and there will be no need to make an appointment, just turn up during the opening hours.

Hospital director, Penny Daniels, said: “NHS estimates suggest up to three million people who visit A&E departments each year could have their needs addressed elsewhere in the urgent care system.

“Government consultations revealed patients were confused by the varying names and different levels of services available, so A&E has become the choice for many people unsure where to turn when they need urgent care of advice.

“While A&E is always the right choice for life or limb threatening illness and injury, our UTC can offer treatment for a range of conditions such as a throat infection, an insect bite or a fracture. Clinical staff experienced in urgent care treatment can assess and diagnose more conditions, prescribe medication and provide onward referrals to appropriate healthcare departments - giving patients faster access to the treatment they need.”

This new treatment centre will feature GPs, blood tests, triage nurses and patient appointments if there is a long wait, all features that the current MIU doesn’t offer.

Dr Mark Kelsey, GP and clinical chair of NHS Southampton City CCG, said: “The service will build on the great service the Minor Injuries Unit is already providing, but with even more support available for the whole family.”