![\"Plans](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Architect-image-new-UTC-and-ED-entrance.png\")
<\/p>\nThe long-awaited new urgent treatment centre at the RVI in Newcastle city centre has opened<\/p>\n
Plans for a new Urgent Treatment Centre at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.(Image: Newcastle Hospitals)<\/p>\n
The new Urgent Treatment Centre at a the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle city centre<\/a> opened as planned last month – with bosses saying it has led to “an immediate improvement”. The new facility is located next to the emergency department at the hospital.<\/p>\n The decision to build the centre was signed off in early 2025. <\/a>The idea is to reduce demand on A&E services and it means the city again has a third UTC – following the earlier closure of another walk-in centre which had be located on Westgate Road.<\/p>\n UTCs offer an alternative provision where patients with urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions can be seen rather than them waiting in A&E. In a report submitted to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS<\/a> Trust’s board – which runs the city’s hospitals – last week, bosses said its opening on January 19 had been successful.<\/p>\n They said: “The RVI <\/a>UTC opened successfully as planned on 19th January. There has been an immediate improvement in the quality of the environment within the department for patients and staff within the department with many people commenting positively on this.<\/p>\n “The permanent link with the main department is likely to be completed in the summer, leading to the move onto Phase 2, reconfiguring the space within the ED.”<\/p>\n Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here<\/a>. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.<\/p>\n Executives continued by highlighting that there were some “logistical aspects” to tackle with regard to the extant “temporary link” between the UTC and the accident and emergency unit, . They added: “Initial workforce training was completed prior to the UTC opening and further training is ongoing.<\/p>\n “The next round of recruitment for Nurse Practitioners (NP) is planned. IT training sessions have been completed with further sessions scheduled for Nurse Practitioners and Admin staff.”<\/p>\n An electronic triage system will be implemented “as soon as possible” the report added, and this will reportedly “further enhance the efficiency of the department”. In the report, bosses added: “The staff of the department and the Clinical Board should be commended for the huge amount of work which has been done to ensure that the opening of the new department has been achieved quickly and efficiently.”<\/p>\n When the plans for the new centre were given the green light by Newcastle City Council<\/a> in March 2025, acting hospitals chief executive Rob Harrison described the new UTC as a \u201cdedicated and modern facility for people who need help with an urgent health need which cannot wait or be treated at home.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cPatients will be able to see the right person to meet their needs, through the centre\u2019s team of doctors, nurses, therapists and other healthcare staff.\u201d<\/p>\n