New temporary home for urgent treatment centre

An urgent treatment centre (UTC) has moved to a third new home in the space of less than 12 months.

Originally known as the Warren Farm UTC in Kingstanding, it had to move to Erdington when dangerous Raac concrete was found in the roof.

But threats to staff and gang-related conflict there forced the NHS to re-think and it has now moved to Birmingham's Good Hope Hospital.

The health service said it was a temporary relocation until a strategic review of all UTCs across Birmingham and Solihull is completed.

The UTC moved from the Kingstanding area of Birmingham to High Street in Erdington in June.

But an NHS report said there were growing safety concerns "regarding an increase in anti-social behaviour, violence and other serious criminal activity" at the new site.

It moved on to the Good Hope Hospital on Wednesday and the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it would give patients and staff "better security and more modern facilities".

Faith Button, Chief Delivery Officer at the ICB, said: "I want to stress that this is a temporary relocation which has been carried out on an emergency basis and this decision is not one which has been taken lightly."

The ICB said a permanent home would be agreed as part of the strategic review, which was still in its preliminary stage.

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