Enfield North MP welcomes longer hours for “vital” health service in the borough

Chase Farm Hospital will be restoring the normal opening for its urgent treatment centre (UTC) after over a year of reduced hours caused by staffing shortages.

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital in Gordon Hill, announced on its website that patients would soon be able to attend the UTC between 8am and 10pm daily, instead of closing its doors at 8.30pm as it’s been doing since July last year.

The reintroduction of later opening hours will be staggered from 25^th September, with the 10pm closing time coming into effect from 16^th October.

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark has campaigned for the restoration of the full opening hours and has now welcomed the announcement from Royal Free. She said: “Since I was elected in 2019, the survival and access to Chase Farm urgent treatment centre has been at the top of my agenda. I have visited Chase Farm and seen first-hand the amazing work the staff do there. It is a great community asset.

“However, I have repeatedly raised my concerns regarding the reduced opening hours. Residents need to be able to access the care they need.

“This has been a hard-fought and long campaign, but I am extremely pleased to announce that Chase Farm UTC will reopen to its full capacity on Monday, 16th of October.

“Everyone deserves access to the right healthcare when they need it most, and I will continue to fight for the people of Enfield North to ensure they do so.”

The UTC allows patients to get an assessment for non-life-threatening medical issues without needing to book an appointment, and can be used even if they are not registered with a local GP. Examples of issues that can be dealt with at Chase Farm UTC include sprains, strains and broken bones; minor burns and scalds; minor head and eye injuries; bites and stings; and minor illnesses.

Feryal argues that Enfield already has “huge issues” with access to GP services, as well as the ongoing pressure for A&E services at North Middlesex University Hospital, which is why the UTC at Chase Farm is “vital” for residents.

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