DUDLEY borough's new £2.6million emergency treatment centre has now opened its doors at Russells Hall Hospital.

The new building houses GP-led urgent care services and is located next to the existing accident and emergency department - to give patients an improved single point of access for urgent and emergency treatment.

Bosses at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which runs Russells Hall Hospital say locating the two services side-by-side means staff can work more closely together to provide a seamless service.

Diane Wake, chief executive, said: “This £2.6m investment really is money well spent to improve urgent and emergency care for Dudley patients."

All walk-in patients should now report to the nurse streaming desk and they will be directed to either the Urgent Treatment Centre or the Emergency Department, depending on their clinical need.