A long-awaited minor injuries unit in Herne Bay will open its doors in September.

The facility, similar to the Estuary View Medical Centre in Whitstable, will be based at the Queen Victoria Hospital’s rehabilitation unit in King Edward Avenue.

Health bosses will cut the ribbon to open the centre on Friday, September 1.

Gillian Fowler, the chairman of the hospital’s League of Friends, says the unit will transform healthcare in Herne Bay.

“It will be a bonus for the town and will provide a fantastic resource,” she said.

“It is part of our vision to improve local care. Currently, people have to travel to Estuary View, which is a bit of a trek, especially in the winter for the elderly.”

In December, the Herne Bay Gazette exclusively revealed plans for the unit, which bosses hope will ease pressure on hospitals.

To be called the Herne Bay Integrated Care Centre, it will be led by nurses and will open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.

"It is something we have been asking for for about 20-odd years..." - Gillian Fowler

Health bosses at the Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) awarded the contract to run it to four GP practices in the town following a tender process.

Doctors from Park Surgery in Kings Road, St Anne’s in Station Road, Coach House Surgery in Canterbury Road and William Street surgery will all unite to run the centre.

Dence Park resident Mrs Fowler, who is also working on plans for a new X-ray department at the site, added: “This would not have happened without the doctors coming together. We had to have them on board.

“We are getting a lot of houses built in Herne Bay, you can see that just by looking at the golf club site, so the unit is always going to be needed.

“I have been on the League of Friends for 43 years and I am very pleased to see this. It is something we have been asking for for about 20-odd years."