In December 2020, the Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) was launched as a pilot to support primary care and A+E in Wrexham and Flintshire - now it deals with around 600 patients a month.

After obtaining Welsh Government funding in November 2020, the UPCC project was launched and delivered two centres in Wrexham and Flintshire. 

The Wrexham centre is based at the Maelor Hospital, with the Flintshire centre located at the Mold minor injuries unit. 

The model of the UPCC is to ease pressures on primary care and the emergency department at the Maelor. 

They act as a same-day service, through referrals from 39 GP surgeries in the Wrexham and Flintshire area, as well as A+E.

READ MORE: 'We're not miracle workers' - Under pressure frontline staff at the Maelor

The UPCCs are not drop-in services, patients must be referred from their GP practice. 

It allows patients whose symptoms don't warrant a trip to A+E but do require medical attention, the chance to be assessed on the same day they call. 

After initially being launched as a four-month pilot to ease winter pressures, the positive uptake and response from surgeries in the area prompted further funding and has since led to three more being opened in North West Wales. 

Andrea Rogers, who heads the UPCC for Wrexham and Flintshire discussed the main aims of the centres.

She said: "What we are trying to do is make sure patients are seen at the right place first time, by the most appropriate clinician for their needs.

READ MORE: Maelor Hospital record worst waiting-time targets in Wales as demand continues

"We have a set criteria of what people can come to us with and the referrals are done by well-trained receptionists which eases pressure on clinicians in surgeries. 

"It is all about trying to ease pressures on primary care, which allows them more capacity. We are also working with the emergency department at the Maelor, to try and ease the waiting times there."

In July, the UPCC had 60 referrals from A+E at the Maelor, in addition to the 590 patients from across surgeries in Wrexham and Flintshire. 

That number rose to 765 in August, which has prompted discussions about opening a third centre in the area. 

"We are averaging about 600 patients a month, and around 30-40 a day minimum, which is continuing to grow. 

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"We are constantly reviewing ways of improving, and we are set to run a trial with A+E to see if there are things we can to do support their capacity.

"The main message I would give to people wanting medical attention is if it is not an emergency, call 111, consider a community pharmacy or contact your GP service first, as they are best placed to deal with a referral to the right place."

For more information on UPCCs, click here.