IN a bid to reduce pressure on accident and emergency staff Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) has submitted plans for an on-site GP service.

The Urgent Treatment Centre, while not a formal GP practice, will allow non-emergency patients who turn up to A&E to be treated on site.

The trust is currently in line to become the county's primary emergency care site, with A&E facilities closed at Poole Hospital, as part of NHS Dorset's Clinical Services Review. A final decision is due to be made on September 20.

A spokesman for RBH said: "As part of NHS England’s directive for all acute hospitals to introduce streaming of patients from emergency departments to on-site GP led services by the autumn, we’re currently implementing an Urgent Treatment Centre.

"The national drive aims to ease pressure on emergency departments by improving urgent care provision and by ensuring patients are seen in the most appropriate place, as quickly as possible.

"The service, which is currently being trialled and will be fully operational in the autumn, aims to ensure patients are assessed by a senior nurse when they arrive at our emergency department, before being directed to the right care for their needs - either our emergency team or an on-site GP led service."

She added: "The Urgent Treatment Centre isn’t a GP practice and won’t replace the care provided by local GPs - the public should continue to use their GP practices as normal."

The centre, which is awaiting planning permission, would be located next to the Dorset Prosthetics Centre and would involve an extension and refurbishment of the main hospital building.

Access would be through new entrance doors into an enlarged reception and waiting area.

According to the trust's application, the doors to the new entrance have been positioned so they will be clearly visible from the emergency department.

The trust spokesman said the new service will build on the existing out-of-hours service provided by South Western Ambulance Service.