Unforeseen circumstances have caused health bosses to close Keswick’s Urgent Treatment Centre for three days from today.
The centre, at the town’s cottage hospital, will be closed for the rest of today, tomorrow, Tuesday August 12, and Wednesday, August 13.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the facility, said the closure was due to staffing pressures.
People are advised that the urgent treatment centre at Penrith hospital and the A&E departments at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital were open as normal.
The trust said Penrith Urgent Treatment Centre was equipped to diagnose and treat many of the most common ailments.
However, it warned that A&E departments have to prioritise the most serious cases first so if people’s conditions were less serious, but cannot wait until you can see a GP, the urgent treatment centre may be the most appropriate place.
It added: “Only to attend A&E in an emergency. Patients who do need to attend could be waiting for extended periods to be seen.
“If you do access our services, please be kind to our staff who are there to help you. We are grateful to everyone for their support and help.”
At 1/20pm today, Monday August 11, waiting time at the Cumberland Infirmary is up to three-and-a-half hours and the waiting time at the West Cumberland is up to two-and-a-half hours.
Penrith Community Hospital’s waiting time is up to two-and-a-half hours.
Last Tuesday, Keswick Urgent Treatment Centre was only open from non to 4pm due to staffing pressures.
