A new urgent care centre opened today in Cork city to treat minor injuries in patients over the age of ten.
The centre will operate for ten hours a day, seven days a week on the site of the former St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital and will be run by the Mercy University Hospital.
Orthopaedic services at St Mary's were controversially transferred to the South Infirmary Hospital last year as part of HSE's re-configuration plans for the region.
It was announced at the time that a number of new services, including this one, would be located there.
The Health Service Executive said up to 50% of patients using the city's emergency departments have minor injuries, such as broken bones and scalds.
It said the opening of the centre will reduce waiting times and numbers at the emergency departments at Cork University Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital.
