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Emergency care improvements in Paddington
Major improvements were announced for emergency care at St Mary's Hospital.
Westminster PCT announced that plans for the hospital, in Praed Street, Paddington, would include an 'urgent call centre'.
The centre will run alongside the existing Accident and Emergency (A&E) at the hospital to give patients without life-threatening conditions access to faster treatment.
The existing A&E Department at St Mary's Hospital, which is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, would continue to operate in the same way as it does now, providing fast access to care for those people needing emergency and specialist attention.
There will be no changes to this service.
The urgent care centre is designed to treat patients with minor injuries or health problems.
It will be staffed with GPs, Emergency Nurse Practitioners and junior doctors and be open 24 hours a day.
The centre would be equipped to deal with all medical issues with the addition of testing, such as blood tests and x-rays if needed.
Anybody attending A&E at St Mary's will go through the urgent care centre where they will be seen quickly to decide the best treatment.
Other health problems and injuries will be managed in the centre by a GP or primary care nurse or other health professional.
Staff will also be able to give patients information about local health services and advise on registering with a GP.
Westminster PCT Chief Executive Michael Scott said: "We are making these proposals to enhance the emergency care at St Mary's.
"This will enable those people with less serious conditions to be seen more quickly than now.
"We are now seeking views on the plans and we are aiming for the centre to be open in October 2009."
National Clinical Director for Emergency Care Access, Sir George Alberti added: "This exciting proposal should help speed up and smooth the pathway for patients with urgent and emergency needs.
"Patients will get the right care in the right place by the right person in timely fashion.
"It will also start to breakdown the barriers that have existed for so long between primary care and hospital care".
To find out how you can get involved in the urgent care centre plans, phone Westminster PCT's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on Freephone 0800 587 8818 or email pals@westminster-pct.nhs.uk
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