Royal United Hospital to begin construction on £12m Urgent Treatment Centre

Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 28, for a new £12 million Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath. The project is funded by national investment from the Department of Health and Social Care.

The purpose-built facility is intended to replace the existing UTC, which is currently located within the hospital’s Emergency Department. By moving non-life-threatening services to a separate location on the hospital site, the RUH aims to reduce crowding in the A&E, free up capacity for seriously ill patients, and create a clearer separation between emergency and urgent care needs.

The new centre is expected to open in late December 2026. It will feature improved waiting, assessment, and treatment areas, enhanced patient privacy, and facilities designed to support better infection prevention and control. RUH Managing Director John Palmer stated that the project marks a major milestone in improving urgent and emergency care services and delivering more efficient treatment through estate investment.