Emergency care in Pembrokeshire is set to change dramatically with the announcement of a cutting- edge £8.75m Emergency or Unscheduled Care Centre at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

Currently, emergency care in the county is provided by numerous independent services, with the Ambulance Service, out-of-hours primary care, A&E, Minor Injury Units, mental health, social care and voluntary providers often duplicating provision. Under the new model, these services will be integrated into one 'urgent care system' ensuring patients see the most suitable person at the most appropriate time in a modern, fit-for-purpose centre. By increasing hospital and community rapid response services, unnecessary hospital admissions will be reduced.

So what can a patient expect from this new service? • On contacting the centre directly or by telephone, a new triage system will quickly route patients to the most suitable treatment.

• Patients with minor ailments will attend a rapid response 'See and Treat' Unit where doctors, nurses and out of hours GP's work together to treat patients, creating larger teams at peak workloads and quicker assessment, treatment and discharge.

• Serious injuries and illnesses will be treated by senior doctors in 20 clinical Decision Units. Doctors will allocate work time to permanently staff CDUs to undertake tests and decide where patient needs are best met, hence reducing delays.

• There will be a new state-of-the-art resuscitation area for severely injured patients.

• Patients with social care needs will have on-site access to a social worker to organise fast and appropriate care and home support.

• Children will be treated in a dedicated Paediatric Assessment Unit by specialist consultants, reducing follow-up outpatient appointments.

• Patients requiring help with existing conditions will be seen as a day-case in a new Medical Day Unit.

• 'Hot clinics' will provide for urgent specialist assessments and increased access given to ultrasound, CT scans, endoscopy, MRI and doppler scans. Crisis Resolution Teams will be on-hand to resolve problems.

• A round-the-clock team of doctors, nurses and health professionals will provide continuous and out of hours care for seriously ill inpatients. GP out of hours services will also be located at the centre for patients with primary care needs.

• Care in the community will be strengthened with better access to intermediate care, equipment and home adaptations, larger numbers of community beds, expansion of the 'Acute Care at Home' service and a community rehabilitation consultant to support people at home.