More than 1,000 people have used the St. David's Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre in its first three months.

The centre, which cost $7.8 million, offers services such as diagnostic services, blood tests and X-rays during the day and non life-threatening emergency services in the evenings. The Government paid $5.3 million for the centre while the Bermuda Hospitals Board paid the rest.

Parliamentary questions tabled by Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson revealed that 760 people accessed urgent care services between April 1 and June 15 and 373 people accessed diagnostic services from the centre during the same period.

Acting Health Minister Walter Roban said: "As can be seen from the numbers, the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre is growing in popularity across the Island.

"You may recall that part of the rationale for developing the Urgent Care Centre was because current health care services were largely concentrated near or within the City of Hamilton suggesting that the ends of the Island were left disadvantaged from those living and working in the central region.

"We are also pleased to note that not only is the Eastern End of the Island receiving the services of the Urgent Care Centre but our aim to reduce wait times in the Emergency Department of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will also be met as persons are realising the first rate care and service they can receive at the Lamb-Foggo Centre if their injury is not life-threatening."

King Edward Memorial Hospital chief of staff Donald Thomas said: "Bermuda Hospitals Board is extremely pleased with the figures for the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre. A total of 1,100 visits in the first three months indicates a strong demand and an increasingly popular option for people. Our data also shows peak usage between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., with 61 percent of patients registering during this time. This reflects that our opening hours are tapping a real community need."

Dr. Thomas added: "The Lamb Foggo UCC has changed the potential for health care in the East End and we hope we can continue to supplement the primary care service already available in the day. For example, with Cup Match in St George's this year, anyone who lives, visits or camps in the East End will have a highly convenient health care service in St David's. From Thursday to Sunday over the four day Cup Match holiday, we will be open from noon to midnight.

"Our experience to date shows that people who visit the Lamb Foggo UCC, either for a diagnostic test, or for the urgent care centre service, have had a positive and speedy experience. We hope its convenience and efficiency continue to attract people. It is a valuable part of an overall emergency service for Bermuda that is constantly evolving to meet the Island's need."

Mr. Roban said the Government had also created the centre as part of its disaster planning effort, adding: "The potential for bridge outages during hurricanes required placement to ensure health care services are available when access is limited.

"As Acting Minister of Health, I commend the staff and management at the Bermuda Hospitals Board for the leadership and care they are providing at the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre."