HEALTH chiefs are reminding residents that Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre remains an option instead of hospital this summer.

As temperatures once again rise over the coming days, it is important to stay safe and take precautions.

Whether it is slips, trips and falls or bites, stings and rashes, the Caldwell Road facility is open seven days a week between 8am and 9pm for non-urgent medical conditions.

This is all the more important considering hospitals are ‘extremely busy’.

Sarah Valentine, the centre’s operational manager, said: “We want everyone to enjoy the summer weather safely, but the heat can have an impact on our health.

“The best advice is to stay hydrated, keep cool and take steps to prevent your home from overheating.

“Injuries can often happen during prolonged spells of hot weather, and if you do need medical help and it is not a hospital emergency, please choose carefully where to go and what to do.

“If you do not need A&E or 999, please use 111.nhs.uk online or call 111.

“Local hospital and ambulance teams are extremely busy. Let us do it together by making the right choice.

“If it is a minor injury or minor ailment, please consider using Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre.”

If you have a minor cut or wound, sore throat, bites or sting, rash and allergic reaction or minor burn, consider Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre rather than going straight to hospital.

The same goes for coughs and colds, muscle or joint injuries such as sprains and strains, earache, eye injuries and infections or emergency contraception.

The centre is centrally located in Widnes and operates on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary.