An urgent care centre to treat Dudley patients with minor injuries is planned to  relieve pressure on Russells Hall Hospital’s emergency department.

It would act as the first port of call for patients who often take up valuable time and resources with unnecessary visits to hospital, particularly when GP surgeries are shut.

Paramedics answering 999 calls would also be able to take patients directly to the urgent care centre if they felt emergency treatment was not needed.

Three possible sites have been identified for the centre at Russells Hall Hospital, Bushey Fields Hospital, which is also on the Russells Hall site and Dudley town centre where a new walk-in centre is already being planned.

Around 8,000 people visit A&E every month with around 3,500 of these classed as having minor injuries.

Dudley Primary Care Trust spokeswoman Laura Broster said: “We have spoken to patients attending A&E and found there are lots of inappropriate attendees.

“Most people said they didn’t know where else to go but if there was another option they probably would use it. What we need to work out is if it would be better on the site of Russells Hall Hospital so if people turn up there they can be directed to it or if it would be more appropriate to have it in the town centre.”

She said plans are in the very early stages but consultation with the public could start later this year. No date has been set for it to open.

It is as yet unclear if the centre would be open 24 hours a day or when figures show accident and emergency is at its busiest such as when GP surgeries are shut.

Mrs Broster added: “There are also other issues which would need to be addressed such as whether it should be GP or nurse led.”