The Sevenoaks Minor Injury Unit is to get an upgrade.

From Monday, the unit at Sevenoaks Hospital in Hospital Road, is to become an Urgent Treatment Centre.

Basically that means that the care for patients will be GP-led rather than nurse-led.

The urgent treatment centre (UTC) will deal with issues like minor illness and injury in adults and children, including wound closure, removal of superficial foreign bodies and management of minor head and eye injuries.

The UTC will have access to investigations, including swabs, pregnancy test and urine dipstick and culture.

Sue Scott, director of community services at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “UTCs are being introduced across Kent and Medway to offer patients the same, high-level care, no matter where they are.

"This includes the minor injury unit at Sevenoaks that we currently run and which will become an urgent treatment centre from Monday, continuing to deliver high-quality care to patients.

"While people will be encouraged to phone 111 to book an appointment at the UTC if they need one, we will continue to also see walk-in patients.

"This is part of the national NHS Long Term Plan to make sure people have the right care, in the right place at the right time and supports how people find help when they need it, fast."

She said: "Urgent treatment centres are GP-led and Sevenoaks will have GP involvement as part of its rollout.

"It also means we will also have a wider scope of clinical delivery and increased diagnostics, including near patient testing and work towards reducing people going to A&E with other healthcare partners.’’

The centre will operate from 8am to 8pm on 365 days a year, as currently.

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