New Urgent Treatment Centre Planned for Stafford's County Hospital

Chris Shepherd
Nov 14, 2025
2 min read

Plans have been submitted for a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Stafford's County Hospital, a move designed to reduce pressure on the A&E department and improve patient flow.

The application (Ref: 25/41101/FUL) has been lodged by the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) and is currently "Awaiting decision" from Stafford Borough Council planners. The proposal is for the construction of a single-storey extension to the side of the existing A&E department. This extension will be built on a currently disused hardstanding courtyard.

What is an Urgent Treatment Centre?

Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) are a key part of the NHS's plan to make urgent care services more consistent and easier for patients to understand. They are GP-led centres that are open for at least 12 hours a day, every day of the week, and are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the common problems people go to A&E for.

According to the NHS, UTCs can treat a wide range of conditions, including:

Sprains and strains
Suspected broken bones
Cuts that need stitches
Minor burns and scalds
Minor head and eye injuries
Skin infections and rashes
Feverish illnesses in adults and children

The goal of the centres is to take pressure off Emergency Departments, allowing A&E staff to focus on the most serious and life-threatening cases

Details of the Stafford UTC Plan

The Design and Access Statement submitted with the application states that the new UTC is needed to align County Hospital's services with national healthcare standards. The hospital currently operates a 14-hour Emergency Care model, which is "no longer consistent with NHS England's national expectations".

The new extension, which has a planned footprint of 14.5m x 11.3m, will provide a dedicated facility for treating minor illnesses and injuries for all age groups. The new facility is set to include:

Four treatment rooms
Two consulting rooms
A clean and a dirty utility room
An appropriate sub-waiting area

Impact on Parking, Traffic, and Environment

A major point for local residents is that the proposal is not expected to have a negative impact on the surrounding area. Staffordshire County Council's Highways department has formally responded, stating they have "no objection" to the plan.

The highways report confirms the proposal "does not include any alterations to vehicle access or parking arrangements," and that pedestrian routes will also remain as they are.

Other technical reports submitted with the application confirm the site is in Flood Zone 1, which has a low probability of flooding. The application also notes that while the site is in a risk zone for Great Crested Newts, it is "reasonable to assume" the works are unlikely to affect them, based on conclusions from a nearby, similar project.

How to Comment

The application is now open for public consultation. Members of the public can view the full plans and submit their comments on the Stafford Borough Council planning portal.

The deadline for comments is Thursday, 4th December 2025.

You can find the application and make a comment by visiting: https://www12.staffordbc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=T1WUTBPSJ1D00.