Temporary overnight closure of Penrith urgent treatment centre

Credit: Cumbria Partnership NHS

Penrith urgent treatment centre will close overnight temporarily for three nights starting tonight.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust says it has had to take the 'difficult decision' due to a shortage of staff.

The urgent treatment centre sees very low numbers of people during the night so the Trust is prioritising keeping the centre open during the day.

The centre provides a service for cuts and grazes, sprains and strains, bites and stings, infected wounds, minor head injuries, and eye problems, such as minor eye infections, scratches or something that is stuck in your eye.

Anyone who needs to access the treatment centre overnight should call the 111 service, which can then offer advice or direct the person to one of the following services:

  • Their own GP during day time hours.

  • An A&E department.

  • The Urgent Treatment Centre between the hours of 8am and 9pm.

  • Cumbria Health on Call (CHoC) the out of hours primary care service between 6.30pm and 8am.

  • It is important to note that CHoC operate an appointment system only, and must be accessed via the 111 service.

People are asked not attend the Penrith Hospital without an appointment as the clinician covering may not be on site (they may be on a home visit) and there is no medical cover on the site.

The service will resume operation 24/7 at 8am on Saturday 31st August.

Signs will be clearly displayed with advice for any walk in patients to call 111 to access medical assistance. The service will operate 8am until 9pm from today (Wednesday 28th August), Thursday and Friday.

Serious or life threatening conditions should be treated at A&E or by calling 999.