£9 million urgent treatment centre for Middlesbrough a step closer - Update

A £9 million new Urgent Treatment Centre for Middlesbrough has moved a step closer with the first preparatory work now taking place at The James Cook University Hospital. Construction work is due to start in October, with the new service set to open in April 2024.

The new service is part of an ambitious plan to integrate services, provide care closer to home and ease pressure on the busy Emergency Department. The plan will also see the GP Out of Hours Service moving from North Ormesby to the new building, while opening hours at Redcar's Urgent Treatment Centre will be extended from April 2024.

Craig Blair, local director for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "This is fantastic news for Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley area. Our aim has always been to ensure the same high level of urgent care services across all five boroughs in the Tees Valley – with the new centre and extended hours in Redcar, all patients will be able to expect a consistent level of service close to home.

"Our initial aim was to integrate urgent care, GP out of hours and home visiting services but our collective success in securing £9 million for the project means that all these things can take place in April."

When completed, the new facility will provide clinical and treatment rooms, waiting areas, staff facilities, a triage and reception area. It will help to ease pressure on the already overstretched Emergency Department, ensuring patients are seen in the right place according to their clinical need.

Andy Hebron, Clinical Director for the Emergency Department at The James Cook University Hospital, said: “Having an Urgent Treatment Centre on site at James Cook will help ensure more patients from the Middlesbrough area are treated in the right place for their needs while helping ensure our emergency department is kept free for emergencies.

“Patients should continue to contact their GP or 111 for their non-urgent health issues, but if they have a minor illness or injury that needs attention, both Redcar and Middlesbrough urgent treatment centres will be available to help, which can only be good news.”

The development follows an 11-week programme of patient engagement in 2022, with 83% of people in favour of the plans to introduce an integrated urgent care model at James Cook.