A new year-round Nurse Led Walk-In Centre, based at Tenby Cottage Hospital, will open on Monday, providing treatment for urgent minor illness and minor injuries.

The service will be open Monday to Friday (including Bank Holidays) from 10 am to 5 pm for patients to attend, with the centre closing following treatment of the last patients by 6 pm.

A&E services for serious illness and injury will continue to be delivered at Withybush General Hospital.

Conditions that can be managed by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner at the Nurse Led Walk In Centre include:

• earache and throat infections;

• skin complaints, including rashes and sunburn;

• minor muscular-skeletal injuries and pain;

• soft tissue injuries;

• hay fever, insect bites and stings;

• minor injuries, cuts, wounds, minor burns;

• minor eye complaints and irritations requiring washouts and irrigation and;

• removal of foreign bodies.

Jill Paterson, Interim Director of Commissioning, Primary Care and Therapies and Health Sciences at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I am pleased to confirm that the new Nurse Led Walk In Centre based at Tenby Cottage Hospital will open on Monday.

“This is a year-round service where patients will be seen by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner who can provide care and treatment directly, or refer to other appropriate services where necessary.

“On behalf of the Health Board, I would like to thank everyone who has worked very hard to establish this service. We are grateful for the support and input from the Hywel Dda Community Health Council (CHC) and the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN) in getting the Nurse Led Walk In Centre up and running.”

The Nurse Led Walk In Centre will be based at Tenby Cottage Hospital, Gas Lane, The Norton, Tenby.

In collaboration with St John Cymru Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is also pleased to confirm a first aid summer service will return to Tenby Hospital for weekends from Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, September 3.

The service was successfully provided over the previous three summer holidays.

It will be run by a group of skilled individuals who will use their experience of providing first aid at public events to give top quality care.

Hywel Dda UHB County Director and Commissioner for Pembrokeshire, Dr Iain Robertson-Steel said: “The service proved very successful in previous years and we are delighted to commission this service to St John Cymru Wales who are widely recognised as a provider of first aid across Wales.”

A triage and treat service will also be offered alongside the summer service in Glen Pharmacy, Tenby and The Pharmacy, Saundersfoot, as part of an existing initiative.

The South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network has stated that it is pleased at the introduction of the year round ‘Walk-In Service’ to be introduced at the Cottage Hospital.

“It will go some way to supporting the unique medical needs of our community,” said SEPCHN chairman Mansel Thomas.

“The service to be provided is led by specialist nurses. Community and visitor use of this service is essential if it is to continue.

“However, there are still gaps in the original plan provision which need to be addressed and which the Health Board is attempting to resolve in the near future.

“SEPCHN will continue to raise these issues in its deliberations with the Health Board and hopefully these can be introduced soon,” he added.

SEPCHN will be holding their next meeting on Tuesday, July 25, at New Hedgez Village Hall, at 2 pm, where an update on the service provisiom at Tenby Cottage Hospital will be given.