The first of two medical facilities designed to ease pressure at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will open on schedule despite Government warnings that public projects could be impacted by global economic turbulence.

KEMH chief of staff Donald Thomas announced this week that the East End Urgent Care Centre will be ready to open in April, as was promised by the Health Minister Nelson Bascome earlier this year.

Premier Ewart Brown gave a televised speech two weeks ago, warning that public projects could be phased-in because of anticipated economic hard times.

This week however, Dr. Thomas confirmed that the planned Urgent Care Centre at the Island's eastern end, was not one of the projects listed to be delayed.

"The expected opening for the eastern Urgent Care Centre at Southside is April 1, 2009 and we are pleased that the project is on target at this point in time," he said.

"Once constructed, the UCC will be run as a BHB (Bermuda Hospitals Board) operation, which means BHB will staff the Urgent Care Centre and be responsible for furnishing and maintaining the facility.

"This is not a public-private partnership, but funded by Government and BHB as previously announced."

Government allocated $2.5 million for the Southside clinic in this year's budget. A second centre in Southampton is proposed for next year's capital plan.

Government says the Urgent Care Centres will offer treatment for "non-life-threatening conditions that require quick attention", such as bone fractures, influenza and minor cuts and bruises.

The facilities aim to reduce the pressure on KEMH. A Planning application for the facility submitted in June this year, stated it would include a reception area, laboratory and radiology, treatment rooms, pharmacy, nurses' station, staff lounge, IT room and ambulance station.