HEALTH bosses have agreed to extend opening hours at the Walk-In Centre in Holly Hall Clinic to help ease the pressure on Accident and Emergency services in Dudley.

The Walk-In Centre, which is situated on Stourbridge Road, will continue to remain open from 8am to 10pm from Friday to Monday.

Originally the opening hours were extended at the start of last November because of the strain on GP out of hours service and Russells Hall A&E department.

The opening extension was due to end on March 31 but due to the current high patent demand and an anticipated busy Easter period, Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group will continue with extended hours until the end of June.

Local GP Dr Steve Mann, who is Clinical Lead for Dudley CCG warned: "It's key that patients remember their primary point of access should be their GP practice for non emergency medical needs as this is the best place for the majority of our population.

"We ask patients to remember that A&E is for real emergencies. People who have a problem where they would normally see their GP, but find them unavailable in the evening or weekend, then the walk in centre will meet needs".

Beryl Wickstead, who is general manager at Holly Hall Walk-In centre added: "We want local people to select the most appropriate NHS service in the event they feel unwell.

"Roughly one in eight people who go to hospital A&E departments could be treated more quickly by their GP, local Walk-In Centre or pharmacist - or even by themselves with basic self-care, first aid and advice.

"By choosing the right NHS service, patients will get the best treatment in the shortest time possible