Use Corby Urgent Care Centre if you can, health bosses urge

Health bosses are urging people to make more use of Corby's Urgent Care Centre instead of travelling to KGH's A&E department.

Use of the Cottingham Road centre, which is open from 8am to 8pm each day, has dropped significantly during the Covid pandemic.

As a result Corby Urgent Centre, Kettering General Hospital and East Midlands Ambulance Service, are working together to ensure that appropriate patients make good use of the centre for urgent but non-life threatening treatment.

Kettering General Hospital’s clinical director of A&E, Dr Adrian Ierina, said: “Often we see patients who could be seen at Corby Urgent Care Centre travelling all the way to KGH to attend our A&E department.

“Naturally this increases pressure on the department, where we have strict rules around social distancing, and we very much hope that people will look at using Corby Urgent Care Centre instead where this is appropriate.

“The teams at both venues are highly skilled and they will ensure you get prompt, appropriate care for your condition.”

You can visit Corby Urgent Care Centre for help with:

- A minor injury that needs additional immediate treatment or investigation, such as sprains or soft tissue injuries, fractures or broken bones, minor burns or scalds and minor head injuries

- If you suffer from a medical condition which is getting worse or if you have been directed to do so by your GP

You should NOT visit the Corby Urgent Care Centre:

- If you have a minor illness such as a cough or cold. Health bosses advise you contact your GP practice or seek advice from a pharmacist

- If you have a long term condition which has deteriorated. Contact your GP practice for advice on that

- If you have a life-threatening emergency or serious condition, such as a suspected heart attack, stroke, sepsis (blood poisoning) or major bleeding (call 999 for an ambulance immediately)

Corby Urgent Care Centre’s clinical services manager, Des Daly, said: “While many people clearly do understand that we are still here and open for business every day - there does seem to be a sizeable number who do not.

“Corby Urgent Care Centre is for patients who need help, advice or treatment for most common injuries and illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening.

“That means we can support and care for a very large number of people with problems without them needing to travel to the A&E department at Kettering General Hospital.

“So our message is please consider Corby Urgent Care Centre if you have an illness which is urgent but not life-threatening.”

If you are unsure what to do, phone 111. This service can help you get the right care, first time - including an emergency ambulance if you need one, or the Out if Hours medical service if your GP practice is closed.

If you are treated at the Urgent Care Centre, staff can give advice about what you should do next. But they can't prescribe routine regular medication, offer routine blood tests, offer vaccinations, arrange follow-up appointments with your GP practice (you must do this yourself) or refer you on to specialist hospital clinics, including for cancer diagnosis (contact your

own GP practice).