A new Urgent Care Centre at West Cornwall Hospital has opened its doors to the first patients.

The service, which replaces the casualty, has been developed by hospital doctors working in partnership with GPs to meet local needs.

New doctors have been recruited to provide round the clock urgent care for the people of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The centre will include a 24/7 doctor led urgent care service, an acute GP clinic and more diagnostic investigations - including blood tests and a gradual increase in the availability of CT scans.

The aim of the new Urgent Care Centre is to provide as much care as possible locally, while recognising that there are a number of conditions that are best treated in an Emergency Department, such as at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro or Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

An NHS spokesperson said: “The simple public message is that there are six conditions where the advice is always to call 999.

“These are chest pains, acute shortage of breath, strokes, head injury with loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pain plus all severely ill children.”

Examples of conditions that can be treated at West Cornwall Hospital include minor burns and scalds, simple fractures to arms and legs, cuts, urinary infections and minor falls.

Andy Virr, emergency department consultant said: “The Urgent Care Centre is an excellent new service designed by clinicians to meet local needs.

“There are many conditions which can be quite safely and quickly treated at West Cornwall Hospital and we would encourage patients wherever appropriate to go to this local service.”

Dr Matthew Boulter is a GP at Alverton Practice in Penzance who also provides casualty cover at West Cornwall Hospital, and has been leading the primary care team working closely with hospital doctors and managers to deliver the project.

He said: “All the GPs working on the project have high hopes for the service and we are delighted by the public support for the project.

“The Urgent Care Centre is about providing high quality, safe and convenient healthcare. This is an innovative project in Cornwall and we hope local people will now make good use of the service.”

The signs at West Cornwall Hospital have all been changed from “Casualty” to “Urgent Care Centre” and the road signs will be changed before the peak tourist season.

Mr Virr said of the name change: “The term casualty is really no longer used in the NHS.

“We felt this might lead to a misunderstanding among the local population and particularly tourists as to what level of care is available at West Cornwall Hospital. “Urgent Care Centres are well established in other parts of the UK and the signage helps people to choose the right service.”

The centre is part of a £5 million investment programme at West Cornwall Hospital which includes new operating theatres, two refurbished medical wards and a new treatment centre.

The new service will be subject to review after six and twelve months by the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT) and its commissioners.

Lezli Boswell, chief executive at RCHT said: “I share the community's desire to see more services provided closer to people's homes.

“The investment at West Cornwall Hospital is part the trust's desire to see vibrant local hospitals offering good quality services.”