A west end urgent care centre "is not in the present budget" and will not be built until it can be funded, said a Government spokesperson.

The care centre, which was supposed to relieve pressure on the hospital's emergency department, was promised in 2007.

Meanwhile the Lambe-Foggo Urgent Care Centre in St. David's was unveiled in April of last year and saw more than 1,000 people use it during its first three months.

A Southampton resident said an urgent care centre would ensure that people in the west end also had their basic health care needs met quickly.

While Shadow Minister of Health Louise Jackson said less money could have been spent on the Bermuda Music Festival and more focused on health needs.

A Government spokesperson said: "The Government made a commitment to urgent care centres in the east and west ends of the Island.

"The east end was completed in 2009. The west end is not in the present budget and therefore will not proceed until such time as it is funded."

According to the spokesperson, a date was never set for the west end facility. It is therefore delayed until Government can allocate enough money for it.

"Following the opening of the East End Urgent Care Centre, the former (Health) Minister turned the country's attention to the development of the new hospital.

"This is one of the largest capital projects Bermuda has ever faced. Add this to the present economic climate and the impact on capital projects and it is understandable that a date for commencement has not been set.

"This is not to say that it won't be done. It is to say that at the present time it is not funded. It is part of the capital programme," the spokesperson added.

Southampton resident Jane Smith admits she lives in an accident prone area on Middle Road. She said it can take up to 25 to 30 minutes for an ambulance to get to the area.

Mrs. Smith said an urgent care centre in the west end would ensure that hundreds of people were not waiting at the hospital for basic medical treatments like stitches.

"In general the urgent care centre is needed for more than one occasion because there are always people that need care.

"There are tourists that fall off their bikes, but do you send for an ambulance that is going to cost $500 if they only have road rash or need a little stitch in their hand?"

She said there were many people going to the hospital because their child had an ear infection or asthma. "If there was an urgent care centre they wouldn't have to go to the hospital for that".

Louise Jackson, of the United Bermuda Party, believes it should take no longer than a couple of minutes to get to a medical facility.

She admitted it was very "distressing" for some people to have to wait, particularly in cases that need immediate attention.

Mrs. Jackson said: "Failing to build an Urgent Care Centre in the West End is yet another election promise to garner votes before an election that has not been honoured by the Progressive Labour Party Government.

"West end residents wait for ambulance service far longer than is safe for many patients to receive care needed in emergency situations.

"Funds that have been squandered on music festivals, consultants, and overruns on capital projects could have been spent on a facility in the West End."

Mrs. Jackson added: "Unthought out election promises like the West End Urgent Care centre and the botched FutureCare Insurance plan for seniors can be painful to the public both in their pocket books and their continuing good health."