A new overnight hub at Ysbyty Alltwen near Porthmadog, will ensure the community has access to non-urgent care 24 hours a day.

An unscheduled care hub will be based in the minor injury unit from Sunday February 3, until the end of March 2019.

The minor injuries unit will offer a 24 hour service with support from the GP out of hours service and the district nursing team.

Chris Williams, clinical skills facilitator and advanced nurse practitioner at Ysbyty Alltwen’s minor injuries unit, said: “We are really looking forward to offering a 24 hour service within the unit here at Alltwen.

“We have been working with Welsh Ambulance Service to ensure over the next two months that we are utilising this hub so that patients don’t always need to go to Ysbyty Gwynedd for their treatment.

“Having the GP out of hours service and the district nurses here is also a great benefit which means that we can treat a number of conditions in one place.

“All minor injuries and illnesses can be seen and treated by us here in Alltwen and we are pleased we can offer this service to those in our community so they can be seen closer to their home.”

The GP out of hours service is offered by appointment only and is available between 6.30pm – 8am Monday to Friday and all day and night at weekends and bank holidays.

Chris Lynes, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s area nurse director for the west, added: “We are looking forward to seeing this service begin to support ongoing winter pressures in Gwynedd and Anglesey.

“This means that additional nursing staff will be available overnight to provide non-urgent care for minor injuries and illness.

“The hub will also ensure the ambulance service have 24/7 access to bring patients to Ysbyty Alltwen for assessment with a view to caring for more people closer to home where this is appropriate and keeping ambulances in the community so that they can respond more quickly.”

Minor Injury Units can treat:

• Bites or stings (insect, animal and human bites)

• Minor burns or scalds

• Emergency contraception outside pharmacy hours

• Minor eye injuries

• Minor injuries such as sprains and strains

• Minor head injuries (children and adults)

• Nasal injuries

• Minor back/neck injuries

During opening hours you can contact the GP Out of Hours Service by calling 0300 123 5566 or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.

For more information on choosing the right NHS service if you become ill or are injured visit www.choosewellwales.org.uk