A minor injuries unit at a Fenland hospital has treated 153 people in four weekends since it started opening seven days a week for a trial.

The move has eased the burden on the A & E Departments at King’s Lynn and Peterborough, with 95 per cent of patients treated at the Minor Injuries Unit at North Cambs Hospital, Wisbech, avoiding a hospital A & E visit.

The unit, which is run by the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, will remain on Saturdays and Sundays until March 30.

Mike Passfield, head of nursing, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, said: “Although people should still go to A&E for life threatening emergencies, by opening the Minor Injuries Unit at weekends we are offering local people with a minor injury an alternative to A & E.

“The need for the service has been demonstrated by the high number of patients we’ve already treated at weekends, most of whom didn’t need to go to hospital.”

The Minor Injuries Unit is open 8.30am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Patients who need x-rays at weekends will be referred to Doddington Hospital where appropriate (there is a transport service from Wisbech to Doddington provided by the ambulance service).

The unit operates a walk-in service, no appointment is necessary. The expanded opening times are in addition to its usual opening times from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm.