The Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is based at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. The service is open every day from 8am to 10pm, with last admissions from 8pm.
The service will see patients aged 16 years and over who present to either the Emergency Department (ED), or as direct walk-ins to the Lister UTC with urgent care needs; minor illness and minor injuries.
Please note, last admissions to the service will be at 8pm. However, depending on clinical demand on the service, clinicians within the UTC may continue to admit patients past the 8pm deadline.
Opening to children over 1 years
Following the successful launch of our Adult Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) – which treats non-life or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses in adults – we are excited to announce the opening of a children’s service within the newly named Lister Urgent Treatment Centre.
As we integrate these services, the current facility at Graveley Annex have now become both adults and children (over 1 year old). Whilst the adult service remains open to walk-ins, the children’s service will initially open as a stream-only service – with patients being signposted from Children’s ED. Initially, children with minor injuries will be eligible to be streamed to the UTC with those suffering from illness remaining in Paeds ED.
What is an urgent treatment centre (UTC)?
Urgent treatment centres (UTCs) provide urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. They are open at least 12 hours a day, every day and are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend A&E for.
UTCs ease the pressure on hospitals, leaving other parts of the system free to treat the most serious cases.
What can a UTC treat?
Our team of emergency nurse practitioners (ENPs) and GPs can treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries in adults and children, including:
- Muscle and joint injuries, such as sprains and dislocations
- Bites, stings, cuts, bruises and grazes
- Burns and scalds
- Minor head injuries
- Objects stuck in ears or noses
Is the service open to walk-ins?
The Urgent Treatment Centre will accept “walk-ins” for adult patients presenting with a non-life or limb-threatening injuries or illnesses.
If you are experiencing an emergency that is life or limb-threatening, please always visit the Emergency Department first.
Please be aware, all patients accessing care for children aged one year or above should attend the Children’s Emergency Department, first.
Not sure what care you need?
If you or a family member or loved one has a minor illness or injury, always contact your GP first for advice and an appointment. You can also get advice from a local pharmacy and from NHS 111, either by calling 111 or online.
For a suspected heart attack, stroke or any other serious or life-threatening illness or injury in an adult or a child, always call 999 immediately.
If you cannot get a GP appointment and your condition is urgent, or you’re advised to seek help by 111, our Urgent Treatment Centre is open every day from 8am to 10pm, with last admissions at 8pm. Please do not present directly to the Lister UTC. Instead, continue to present at the Emergency Department and if appropriate, you will be signposted to the Lister UTC where you will be triaged and treated.
Accessing the Lister UTC
Though the Lister UTC is now open to walk-ins, patients still presenting at the Lister Emergency Department (A&E) who do not have a life or limb-threatening injury or illness may be referred to the new Lister UTC.
Upon referral, patients will be provided a handheld map detailing the route from the Lister Emergency Department (A&E) to the Lister UTC. The route is also relevant for patients travelling from the UTC to Radiology, where appropriate. We encourage anyone who does not feel comfortable navigating the stairs down to Radiology on Level 3 of the Yellow Zone to instead use the lifts located on Level 3 of the Orange Zone (as outlined on the map) and follow the signage to Radiology (Yellow Zone).
This map can also be viewed online by clicking here.
What happens at the Lister UTC?
When you arrive, you will be booked in by one of our receptionists and a senior nurse will then triage (assess) you based on the information you have given us. This will help our team to decide how urgent your condition is and whether you need to be seen by an emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) or a GP. The ENP or GP will then fully assess you and decide on the best treatment and care. We’ll also take x-rays or urine samples to help diagnose your condition if required.
Waiting times at the Lister UTC
The waiting time to be seen in the Lister UTC may be shorter than at an emergency department, but it will vary depending on how busy the centre is and the urgency of your condition or injury. Our nurses will prioritise the order that people are seen in, depending on how unwell they are or the nature of their injury. This means that someone who arrives after you may be called through to be seen more quickly.
Finding the Lister UTC
The Urgent Treatment Centre is on the ground floor of the Light Blue Zone – formerly known as the Graveley Annexe building. You can find it easily by following signage from either the main entrance in the multi-storey car park or by following the various totem signs located around the Lister Hospital site. The centre will be signposted as ‘Lister Adult Urgent Treatment Centre’.
Please be aware, maps are also available from ED. To request one of these, please ask the triage nurse.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The UTC will see and treat minor illnesses and injuries which do not require ED care. This will free up ED to deal with the most serious cases and will consequently reduce the length of stay patients experience in their urgent and emergency care pathway.
Yes, the Urgent Treatment Centre is in a different location to the Treatment Centre (where ophthalmology is located). Clear signage is located around the hospital and patient maps are provided upon arrival at the Emergency Department (ED) to help direct patients to the correct area, if they are referred.
Patients are able to phone 111 for advice and may be asked to attend the UTC the following day. Any life or limb-threatening conditions should still attend ED.
For patients who are informed they need an x-ray whilst attending the Lister Urgent Treatment Centre and provided they are not guided to x-ray by a porter, will receive a detailed map to guide them to and from the radiology department on Level 2 (Yellow Zone).
