Satvir Kaur, Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, and Darren Paffey, Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen, have welcomed the scheduled opening of Southampton General Hospital’s new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service in November, ahead of the cold winter months.
The new services will increase urgent care capacity in Southampton, helping patients get the care they need while easing pressure on the hospital’s emergency department. Same day emergency care allows patients to be assessed, diagnosed and treated without an overnight hospital stay where appropriate.
The openings come as the NHS prepares for increased demand over winter, when seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus put additional pressure on staff and services.
Satvir Kaur MP said:
“We all have experience of waiting too long in A&E, and I know from speaking to patients and staff how much this extra capacity matters. These services will help more local people get the treatment they need, whilst easing pressure on our busy emergency department. Our NHS staff work incredibly hard all year round, and they need the right facilities and support to care for people during the pressures of winter.
“Securing these services for our city has been something I’ve been campaigning for, so I’m really pleased Government is investing to ensure they are open and ready in time for winter. I’ll keep working with the hospital to make sure the needs of our city are heard, and that local people continue to see improvements in their care.”
Darren Paffey MP said:
“This is excellent news for Southampton as we head into what we know will be a challenging winter for our NHS. These new services will help patients get the treatment they need more quickly, while easing pressure on our hardworking A&E teams. This is exactly the sort of practical investment we need to see from a Labour Government, giving NHS staff the facilities and resources they need to deliver better care for patients.
“This is a really positive step forward for our city, and I look forward to seeing these new services making a difference for patients and staff alike.”