A NEW-look care centre in Weymouth is now open to the public.

The Weymouth and Portland Community Urgent Care Centre (CUCC) opened officially yesterday (fri) and replaces the Minor Injuries Unit and Walk-In Centre at Weymouth Community Hospital on the Melcombe Avenue site.

The new facility aims to bring care closer to home, reduce the need for trips to Dorset County Hospital (DCH) and offer a more efficient, joined-up service for patients.

However, people will be directed to their GP if their problem is not urgent or a local pharmacy if the problem is best managed there.

Helen Persey, Weymouth Locality Manager for Dorset HealthCare, said: “This new centre is the first of its kind in Dorset, and will see local services working closely in partnership to deliver the highest levels of care and support to people in Weymouth and Portland.

“Having a single service means we can ensure the care we provide is more accessible for patients and will help ease the pressure on Dorset County Hospital – although we do encourage anyone with a serious injury or illness to travel there for treatment.”

The CUCC will provide treatment for anything from sprains, broken bones and asthma attacks to animal bites, cuts and kidney infections.

Commissioned by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, it will be operated by Dorset HealthCare in partnership with DCH and local GP surgeries. There will also be close support from the South West Ambulance Service.
For more information, go to www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/cucc