A private hospital’s urgent care centre is being used as a model for similar facilities across the country.

The centre at BMI The Clementine Churchill Hospital, Harrow, caters for patients with minor cuts or ailments who need immediate assistance.

It is often used as an alternative to an NHS A&E department for minor injuries and accidents and patients are typically seen within 15 minutes.

Systems and operations similar to those at the Harrow base will now be used by BMI at some of their other locations in the UK including Manchester and Guildford.  

It cited the success, particularly the quick access to x-ray, further diagnostics or onward referrals to specialists, as a reason for the proposal.

Claire Armstrong, executive director at BMI The Clementine Churchill Hospital, said: “This is all credit to our urgent care centre teams, and to our patients in Harrow who have given us feedback and essentially helped us develop a service which is in line with their needs and helps them get back to their normal lives quickly.

“Our patients tell us that they cannot afford to wait to be seen by a doctor as they need to get back to work.

“For them, sitting in a waiting room for hours is just not an option – the Urgent Care Centre gives them that alternative.”