DEAL HOSPITAL'S URGENT TREATMENT CENTRE

We have been asked by a local GP to remind people about the help that is currently available at our local Deal Hospital. Its Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is one of a number that are open across Kent and Medway and can see a variety of patients, including children. They cover both minor illness and injury and are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments that people attend emergency departments for.

For many problems, the preferred method for access to the UTC services is by booking an appointment via NHS 111. GPs may advise and help with this if necessary. Patients can also “walk-in” but the current COVID safety measures make this far from ideal. Locally, if there is a problem connecting to NHS 111, Deal UTC can be contacted directly by phone to arrange an appointment on 01304 865313. Deal's Victoria Memorial Hospital opening hours are: 8am-8pm.

More information about using the UTCs.
Patients are encouraged to contact NHS 111 to access UTC services and have an appointment booked. However, they will also be able to walk in.
Patients who walk in to a UTC will be seen promptly as per clinical need. Patients who have a pre-booked appointment made by NHS 111 should be seen within 30 minutes of their appointment time but it may also vary according to clinical priority.
UTCs can refer to a number of different services if needed. Patients may be referred to emergency departments, ambulatory or same day emergency care services, specialist services, GPs, primary and community services or discharged with treatment.
A patient's registered GP will always be notified about the clinical outcome of a patient’s encounter with a UTC via a Post Event Message (PEM), accompanied by a real-time update of the electronic patient care record locally. For children, where there are particular concerns and where appropriate, the episode of care will also be communicated to their health visitor or school nurse directly.

UTC Opening Hours.
UTCs are open for a minimum of 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

• William Harvey Hospital, Ashford; 24 hours
• Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate: 24 hours
• Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury: 24 hours
• Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone: 8 am - 8 pm
• Buckland Hospital, Dover: 8 am - 8 pm
• Victoria Memorial Hospital, Deal: 8 am -8 pm
• Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, Herne Bay: 8 am - 8 pm
• Faversham Medical Practice, Faversham: 8 am - 8 pm
• Estuary View Medical Centre, Whitstable: 8 am - 8 pm

Medical conditions suitable for UTCs.
Urgent and newly presenting:

• Sprains and strains
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Limb fractures
• Dislocations of fingers and toes
• Wounds including cuts and grazes
• Soft tissue injuries and bruising
• Minor burns and scalds
• Insect and animal bites
• Minor eye injuries
• Urinary tract infections
• Stomach pains if not pregnancy related
• Minor illnesses
• Children with minor illnesses
• Minor allergic reactions
• Mental health problems.     (January 6, 2021)

HELP WITH HOME SCHOOLING

The BBC has announced it will show curriculum content on TV every weekday from Monday, 11 January:

• primary-school programming, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, from 09:00 to 12:00 on CBBC; and
• at least two hours of programming to support the GCSE curriculum on BBC Two.

And there's lots more help available online - much of it listed in this BBC News report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55549072.         (January 6, 2021)

DOVER INCLUDED IN NEW COVID TESTING CENTRES

Dover Discovery Centre in the town's York Street has been named as one of 14 centres across the county where people who have no symptoms of infection can get tested for the COVID-19 virus. Tests must be pre-booked and results should be available about an hour after testing. For details, see: https://kcc.healthit.org.uk/covbook/home. 
(January 4, 2021)