Medway hospital will open a new urgent care centre by spring next year.

In a bid to simplify the system at the hospital, the centre will deal with patients who have urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.

The emergency department will still be fully functioning but it is hoped the centre will help make sure patients get the most appropriate care quickly.

The centre will cater for minor injuries and minor illnesses and will offer care for the frail and elderly, children’s services, emergency pharmacy, mental health, social care and a fast-track to the emergency department. It will also include access to GP services.

Dr Sharif Hossain, clinical lead for urgent care at Medway CCG, which is responsible for planning and buying local NHS services, said: “During summer 2017, we engaged with hundreds of local residents, community leaders, GPs and clinicians through focus groups, public meetings, and an online and offline questionnaire.

“The feedback we received has fed directly into our planning so we would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their opinions. The majority of people agreed with our proposals, although some had concerns about parking facilities and access in general to the hospital site, so we are looking at how to address these issues.

“As part of the development of the Medway Model – a new way of joining up local health and care services so that, where appropriate and possible, they can be delivered closer to people’s homes – we are working to move some services out of hospital.

“Many of these plans will be in place by April 2019 when the urgent care centre opens, reducing the need for as many patients to visit the Medway Maritime site.” These plans include opening GP practices seven days a week and from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday.

Minor illness clinics will also provide additional care access during the week. Services at the walk-in centre at Balmoral Gardens Healthy Living Centre will move to the urgent care centre.

No decision has yet been made on how the walk-in centre in Gillingham will be used in the future.

The CCG is also in discussion with local bus companies on options to improve public transport access to the hospital.