Jane Witcomb, Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) in the Walk-in Centre says: “The new NHS Walk-in Centre is seeing large numbers of patients, more than we had originally anticipated.  It is very popular with both staff and patients, and is clearly offering a highly valuable service to the local community.   Our staff have worked really hard over the last year and I am very proud of them.”

The Walk-in Centre at Ashford Hospital replaced the Emergency Department at Ashford Hospital.   However, because it is able to see and treat a wide range of minor injuries and illnesses (see below) and includes a dedicated X-ray service within the department it has been able to cope with the majority of cases.  The Centre is staffed by experienced Emergency Nurse Practitioners many of whom have worked in A&E departments, with a number of trained support nurses, and is open every day from 7.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m..  Overnight, there is a GP service, which runs in conjunction with the regular out-of-hours service operated by Thamesdoc, although the numbers of patients seen during the night are low.

Jane continued: “Our waiting times are very short.   Most patients are seen, treated and on their way home within 60 minutes, many quicker.  However we cannot deal with everything and sometimes have to refer patients across to Accident & Emergency at St. Peter’s.   With our new networked x-ray system we can take x-rays at Ashford and if necessary get an opinion from a doctor at St. Peter’s.   Whilst we can deal with minor fractures here, more complex fractures need to be looked at and treated by a doctor at St. Peter’s.”     

National medical guidelines cover what types of conditions can be treated at Walk-in Centres.  Generally anyone who is usually fit and healthy and over two years of age can find help at a Walk-in Centre.  The guidelines do however say that it is best for children under the age of 2 to be seen by a paediatrician in A&E; for head injuries in those over age 65 to be seen by a doctor in A&E and for anyone with chest pains to be seen by a doctor in A&E.  If you have chest pain dial 999.

However all the Emergency Nurse Practitioners at the Walk-in Centre are fully trained in emergency life support, and the Walk-in Centre has a fully equipped resuscitation unit for immediate emergencies.  Walk-in Centre staff are also experienced in general health promotion and are able to give advice on a wide range of subjects such as healthy eating, advice on family planning, how to obtain support to stop smoking and so on. 

Jean Haire, a nurse herself and Business Manager for the Walk-in Centre comments; “The Walk-in Centre is a wonderful resource for people who live around Ashford Hospital.    However any major emergency cases need to go to St. Peter’s.    Local people need to understand where they should go to get the right treatment and because of that we will be circulating Walk-in Centre posters to community noticeboards.  All patients with life or limb threatening conditions should be taken to their nearest A&E department, either St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey or West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth.  In addition, the Walk-in Centre cannot treat children under the age of two who should either see their GP or go to the nearest A&E department, depending on their condition.”

The Walk-in Centre details can be downloaded from the Trust’s website on our website has information about the service. 

Conditions routinely seen and treated by the Walk-in Centre include:

·          Minor injuries, including stitching

·          Sprains and strains

·          Minor fractures

·          Minor burns and scalds

·          Minor head injuries in adults under 65

·          Coughs and colds

·          Skin complaints, bites and stings

·          Women's health problems

·          Removal of small foreign bodies