The proposal involves building a new urgent treatment centrenext to the A&E, providing a dedicated space for patients with urgent, non-life-threatening health issues.
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00:00The proposal involves building a new Urgent Treatment Centre next to the A&E, providing
00:06a dedicated space for patients with urgent, non-life-threatening health issues. This facility
00:11is set to open 24-7 by the end of 2025, with preliminary works already underway.
00:19The new Urgent Treatment Centre aims to ease the burden of the Emergency Department, allowing
00:24it to focus on life-threatening cases. The decision follows the closure of the Westgate
00:28Road Walking Centre, while the remaining Urgent Treatment Centres at Ponteel and Road in Cowgate
00:34and Wallenew Street in Byker will continue to operate as usual.
00:39Rob Harrison, Acting Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals, expressed his delight at the approval,
00:44highlighting that the centre will offer modern, purpose-built care to patients needing immediate
00:49attention.
00:52The Minor Injuries Unit at the RVI will remain operational until the UTC opens, at which
00:57point its services will be transferred to the new centre.
01:01However, concerns were raised by local councillors about potential traffic congestion around
01:06the hospital, particularly on Richardson Road and Queen Victoria Road, as no additional
01:11parking is being provided.
01:15The issue of traffic congestion around Newcastle, particularly near the RVI, has been a long-standing
01:20concern with the city's growing population and an increase in demand for healthcare services.
01:27Traffic congestion is becoming more prevalent, especially in the areas surrounding key public
01:32and commercial facilities.
01:34The RVI, located close to the city centre, is one of Newcastle's busiest hospitals,
01:39and the surrounding roads have been long prone to congestion due to their proximity to the
01:43A1, major shopping areas and other services.
01:47With no extra car parking being provided for the new UTC, patients and visitors will have
01:52to rely on existing parking spaces in and around the RVI site.
01:56This could lead to further strain on these already limited and often overcrowded parking
02:00facilities, especially as the new facility operates 24-7.
02:06I spoke with locals to find out their thoughts on traffic in and around Newcastle and their
02:10thoughts on the new Urgent Treatment Centre.
02:13So, I actually work within the Freeman's Hospital, a little bit outside of Newcastle, and there
02:19definitely is that issue of, so Freeman's Hospital is the only specialised hospital
02:23in the whole north-east for certain issues, and people find parking extremely difficult,
02:29especially on the clinic days.
02:32The traffic's a nightmare, obviously.
02:34You've got all the works on the Titan Bridge, which is making things especially tough at
02:40the minute, and the flyover's obviously closed and everything, so it's a little bit out of
02:43the hands.
02:44I have been there before, but obviously parking for any hospital you need to not put any more
02:51in is surprising, to be fair, it's the first I've heard of it, but, you know, my partner
02:56works in the NHS and she's always banging on about this, so...