Stoke-on-Trent City Council has approved the plan

08:40, 15 Oct 2025Updated 05:54, 08 Dec 2025

A new urgent treatment centre is planned for Royal Stoke University Hospital to help reduce pressure on emergency care services. Existing portable buildings at the hospital are earmarked for the facility and a planning application for the development has now been approved by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said: “The proposed development comprises of internal and external alterations to the existing out of hours GP facility, as well as providing a new extension to the front (road) elevation to accommodate for the new X-ray suite to meet the hospital’s needs. A substation will be provided to cater for the increase in demand of the internal equipment to serve the X-ray facility.

“The additional development (extension) is minimal in context of the site (and) the scale of the proposals seeks to deliver the client’s needs, improving patients’ services. The extension is for a new x-ray suite only, with the interior of the existing out of hours GP clinic being repurposed to meet the accommodation briefing needs for the urgent treatment centre.

“The scheme offers an enlarged and welcoming layout for both occupants and visitors, through the newly designed entrance, waiting area/ reception zone. This new and improved facility will contribute to the reduction in the pressure on the hospital’s front line emergency care services.”

NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), which oversees health services across the area, is introducing urgent treatment centres (UTCs) as part of a national programme. The aim is to provide urgent care services at least 12 hours a day to patients of all ages, treat minor illnesses as well as injuries and be able to receive patients arriving by ambulance and access their electronic records.

UTCs will treat a range of common injuries and illnesses that patients currently attend emergency departments for, such as suspected broken bones, abdominal pain, minor head and eye injuries, minor burns and scalds, skin infections, feverish illnesses and cuts that need stitches. X-ray services are also set to be available during the full opening hours.

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