Key Points
- All four urgent treatment centres (UTCs) across Barking, Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge have been rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- The UTCs are operated by the Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC).
- The centres operate at King George Hospital, Queen’s Hospital, Barking Hospital, and Harold Wood Polyclinic.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised the UTCs as a “great model” for patient care and wants it replicated nationally.
- The UTCs have contributed to significant improvements in A&E performance at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT).
- Between 70% and 80% of patients who access the Trust’s A&E come through these UTCs.
- Rapid assessment in UTCs has helped patients, especially those arriving with chest pain, receive quicker reassurance and care.
- PELC’s December 2024 performance showed a 98.8% success rate in handling urgent cases during the Trust’s busiest month.
- Recent improvements are thanks to increased staffing and better use of space at UTCs, supported by investment from NHS North East London.
- Former challenges included prior ratings of “inadequate” and placement in special measures, with ongoing improvement plans.
- NHS North East London and PELC are working closely to maintain and improve services.
What Are the Latest CQC Ratings for East London Urgent Treatment Centres?
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently assessed four Urgent Treatment Centres located at King George Hospital, Queen’s Hospital, Barking Hospital, and Harold Wood Polyclinic across East London. These centres are run by the Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC). Following their inspections, all four centres have been rated as “Good,” marking a significant turnaround from previous evaluations.
Previously, as reported by the NHS North East London news on 1 April 2025, these services faced serious challenges. At that time, the CQC had rated the same UTCs as ‘inadequate’ and placed them under special measures, requiring urgent improvements. Since then, there has been a concerted effort supported by NHS commissioners and PELC to address the CQC’s concerns, including improving clinical assessments and patient monitoring. These actions have culminated in the recent positive rating.
What Impact Have the UTCs Had on Emergency Care Performance?
As reported by the Partnership of East London Co-operatives on 20 February 2025, the UTCs at King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital have played a pivotal role in elevating the performance of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT). The Trust has moved from one of the worst-performing in emergency care nationally to being ranked within the top 20, and now holds the position of the second best in London for A&E performance.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who visited the King George Hospital UTC, described the service as a “great model” that should be rolled out across the country. He praised the centre for enabling patients to be seen faster, triaged more effectively, and for providing quicker access to the right care at the right time. This model not only enriches patient experience but also reduces pressure on hospital emergency departments.
Between 70% and 80% of patients attending BHRUT’s emergency departments arrive via these UTCs. Once patients are assessed by PELC clinicians, they either receive treatment within the UTC, are referred to A&E if they require urgent care, or are sent home with referrals to their GP or community health services. This triage system has improved flow and efficiency dramatically.
How Are UTCs Managing Chest Pain Cases More Effectively?
During his visit, Health Secretary Wes Streeting also highlighted the significant impact of UTCs on patients presenting with chest pain. Rapid assessment and diagnostic testing performed in these centres reassure about 8 out of 10 patients that their condition is non-serious, allowing them to receive appropriate care far quicker.
This improvement reduces the time patients spend in A&E where those with more critical conditions are prioritised. Effective handling of such cases has contributed substantially to reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes at BHRUT.
What Has Contributed to the Recent Success of These UTCs?
PELC’s Chief Executive, Steve Rubery, attributed the recent improvements to increased investment, allowing more doctors to staff the UTCs and more strategic use of space within the facilities. These changes have enabled the UTCs to better manage patient demand and provide a safer, more responsive service.
Fiona Wheeler, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of BHRUT, reaffirmed the importance of the partnership with PELC. She noted that collaborative efforts have yielded real improvements in patient access to urgent and emergency care, enabling patients to be treated in a more suitable and comfortable environment.
Were There Previous Concerns About These UTCs?
Indeed, the journey to the current “Good” rating was not without challenges. The Care Quality Commission had previously rated several of the urgent treatment centres in East London as ‘inadequate’ and placed the services into special measures, as revealed in reports from early 2025 and 2023. The NHS North East London authorities responded swiftly with an improvement plan that focused on safer clinical assessment times, enhanced monitoring of waiting patients, and organisational management reforms.
Zina Etheridge, Chief Executive of NHS North East London, stressed that providing patients with safe, high-quality services remains the top priority, and that all partners are working closely to ensure sustainable improvements.
What Is the Broader Context of Urgent Treatment Centres in East London?
Urgent Treatment Centres serve as a vital interface between general practice services and hospital emergency departments. They provide care for urgent but not life-threatening conditions, aiming to deliver timely and effective treatment while reducing the strain on A&E departments.
The positive transformation of the four UTCs in East London reflects a broader national initiative to strengthen urgent care pathways and enhance patient experience. The model demonstrated at King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital UTCs is seen as an exemplar of best practice that could be implemented across the NHS to ease pressure on emergency services and improve clinical outcomes.
How Have Patient Volumes Affected UTC Operations?
Despite December 2024 being BHRUT’s busiest month on record with nearly 31,000 patients seeking urgent and emergency care, PELC-managed UTCs maintained a performance rate of 98.8%. This speaks to the centres’ capacity and effectiveness in managing high patient volumes while sustaining service quality.
The Care Quality Commission’s recent “Good” rating of all four urgent treatment centres across Barking, Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge marks a significant achievement for the Partnership of East London Co-operatives and NHS North East London. Through collaborative efforts, investment, and innovative patient management, these centres have become a recognised model of urgent care excellence locally and nationally. The positive statements from Health Secretary Wes Streeting and senior NHS executives highlight the centres’ essential role in reshaping urgent and emergency care services in East London and beyond.
