Erith Urgent Care

Summary 

The Hurley Group currently provide Urgent Care Centres in the London Borough of Bexley at two sites, Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup and Erith Hospital. The Hurley Group have raised concerns with the local Clinical Commissioning Group regarding the suitability of the site at Erith Hospital. An independent review of the site at Erith Hospital found it unfit for purpose for a number of reasons, staff safety being one. As a result Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group proposed to move the Urgent Care Centre (UCC), from Erith Hospital to Erith Health Centre. The purpose of this engagement was to explore the views of local residents who may use Erith UCC and how the proposed move may have affected them.

A total of 105 participants were spoken to and questionnaires were completed. Of these, 70 were obtained from Erith Urgent Care Centre and 35 from other Healthwatch Bexley engagements. 

Key findings

• 53% of respondents presented at UCC on the days we visited, because they could not get a GP appointment and 11% stated they hadn’t even tried to get a GP appointment, but had just come straight to Erith UCC.
• The majority of respondents were aware of the NHS 111 service, but not of the GP Hubs available at Erith or Queen Marys Hospitals. 4% of respondents were at UCC after being referred by NHS 111. 
• 28% of respondents were “very satisfied” and 54% were “satisfied” with the level of care they received whilst at Erith UCC.
• 50% supported the proposed move of Erith UCC to Erith Health Centre
• 79% would use the UCC if it moved to Erith Health Centre.