James Cook Urgent Treatment Centre
James Cook Urgent Treatment Centre
Urgent and emergency care at The James Cook University Hospital has been transformed through a series of key developments designed to improve patient flow, increase capacity, and reduce pressure on the hospital’s Emergency Department.
A key part of this transformation is the new modular Urgent Treatment Centre, designed and delivered as part of a £9 million investment in urgent care services on Teesside which opened to patients in April 2024. The facility has been carefully placed adjacent to the existing emergency department, with a new single, stand out entrance to create a streamlined one-way patient flow, ensuring patients receive care in the right place at the right time. Open 24 hours a day, the UTC has already made a significant impact, with more than 30,000 patients seen in its first six months. Its success has helped ease pressure on the main ED, contributing to a 36% drop in A&E attendance.
The ground floor of the UTC features dedicated adult and children’s waiting areas alongside a series of clinical spaces, including nine consulting rooms, a plaster room, and an assessment room. Designed for efficiency, the UTC directly links to the existing Emergency Department at both the front and back, helping to streamline access and treatment pathways. The first floor provides essential staff facilities, including offices, rest areas, and a large meeting space.
With patient experience at the forefront, a natural colour palette has been incorporated, complemented by wildflower wall art to create a sense of calm in the busy clinical setting. Externally, timber-effect cladding reinforces these natural elements, as exposure to nature, even subliminally, is known to support recovery. The cladding also helps the building stand out, a key design concept conveyed by the Trust, to ensure patients can easily identify it as a focal point of the site.
-
End User
South Tees NHS Foundation Trust
-
Contractor
Geoffrey Robinson
-
Modular Provider
Premier Modular
-
Value
£9 Million
Built using offsite modular construction, the UTC was installed using 27 modular units in just a matter of days. This modern construction method ensured a rapid build, minimised disruption to the hospital’s critical emergency services, and supported a zero waste to landfill solution, significantly reducing environmental impact and carbon footprint. See more from the construction stage on our Site Story.
The UTC forms part of a wider programme of improvements at The James Cook University Hospital, including a new central entrance lobby positioned between the Urgent Treatment Centre and the existing Emergency Department. This creates a focal point for all patients arriving at The James Cook Regional Major Trauma Centre.
Although the UTC and the new ED lobby are separate, they were designed as a cohesive unit, wrapping around the existing ED to enhance visibility and provide clear wayfinding to ensure patients can easily identify the main entrance for emergency care. The ‘one front door’ approach, supported by a central Streaming Desk, improved Triage Area and new corridor leading from the lobby to Paediatric ED, will help ensure all patients are efficiently assessed upon arrival and directed to the appropriate care pathway, reducing wait times and enhancing the overall patient experience.
