The team behind Grantham's new temporary 24/7 Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) has welcomed 366 patients through the door in its first full week of operation (Monday 22 June – Sunday 28 June inclusive).

According to Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) which provides the Grantham UTC service, official figures show that:

· Sunday 28 June was the busiest day with 68 cases attending the UTC

· patients on average waited for five minutes before assessment

· 98.91% of patients were discharged in 87 minutes

· less than 5% of patients were referred to an Accident and Emergency department.

The figures show that the Grantham UTC was the third busiest Urgent Treatment Centre run by the LCHS team across Lincolnshire after Boston and Lincoln, underlining the importance of patients thinking 'Talk before you Walk' to get the treatment and advice they require quickly, safely and easily.

Talk before you Walk is about highlighting the online, digital and telephone services to help patients get the right care, first time, every time by:

· calling NHS111

· visiting 111.NHS.uk online or

· downloading the NHS app.

The free and confidential NHS 111 service provides medical advice quickly, simply and easily with the benefit of avoiding busy waiting rooms to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

NHS 111 medical experts are available to diagnose symptoms and arrange appropriate care from an online video consultation, sending an ambulance to ordering a prescription for collection from a local pharmacy.

The Grantham Urgent Treatment Centre provides a wide range of services from bee stings to x-rays including:

· sprains, strains muscle or joint injuries

· cuts, grazes and wounds

· suspected broken bones (fractures)

· eye problems – infections, scratches and items stuck in the eye

· minor head injuries

· ear and throat infections

· bites and stings

· abdominal pain

· vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation

· skin rashes, shingles and chickenpox.

Tracy Pilcher, Deputy Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust and Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Operations said: "The UTC team has had a busy first week, as we expected, and we've been able to help a number of patients with conditions ranging from skins rashes to leg wounds.

"To help us help you, we urge local people to use the Talk before you Walk approach to get the right care at the right time to meet their needs by calling NHS 111, using the app or going online.

"The recent hot weather has been a reminder about the importance of taking care in the sun, avoiding the hottest part of the day and to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

"Thank you to the local community for their support and the respect they have shown our busy team."

The Grantham UTC is open 24/7 with signed visitor parking. Parking is currently free of charge in line with national guidelines.