Forum Topic

The Urgent Care Centre fronting Ealing A&E is run by Care UK Ltd - details here:http://www.ealingunscheduledcareservice.co.uk/I'm not sure but I think this started in April 2011.Personally, I dislike the fact that the service provided was put out to tender and commissioned by the Primary Care Trust.  Their stated aim was to "provide a GP-led urgent care service on site".As has been reported ad nauseam in the last few years, attendances at A&E departments have sky-rocketed recently.  The provision of this centre is an attempt to "triage" people - assess what their urgent needs are before clerking them into the A&E proper or get GPs and nurses to treat more "minor" cases.  This type of service is becoming increasingly common across England.I took a friend to A&E about a year ago and he was (relatively) quickly assessed by a receptionist and then seen by a Care UK nurse.  She then called an A&E house doctor and he was treated quickly and effectively and we were able to go home.The Primary Care Trust remains accountable for the treatment provided by Care UK Ltd, although this comes wiith all of the normal difficulties and inconsitencies associated with contract negotitions and commercial / care issues.The atmosphere in the various waiting rooms seems to be designed to be off-putting (over bright, noisy, uncomfortable) and I doubt that many people would make an active choice to attend the Urgent Care Centre rather than go to their local GP.Overall, however, I was impressed that my friend was treated quickly and well and that we were home again fairly speedily.  This contrasted well to my previous experience, 10 years ago, where my sister and I waited over 2 hours for my mother to be seen by an incredibly stressed house doctor who had just come to her from a very difficult resuscitation attempt.

Phil Kay ● 4687d