The Bermuda Hospitals Board has cut back the opening hours of the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre to bolster resources at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The UCC in St David’s will run from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays for at least two weeks from tomorrow.

Weekend hours will remain unaffected, with the facility open to patients between 9am and 9pm.

Chikezie Dean Okereke, the Chief of Emergency, said the change is intended to allow the BHB to focus its staff resources on the Emergency Department at KEMH.

Dr Okereke said: “We do all we can to meet the demand in our Emergency Department and UCC, but at times when our staffing is stretched, we have to focus on the Emergency Department first as this is where the most unwell patients who need the most urgent attention are.

“We are keeping the UCC open every evening in the week even though the hours are reduced, and weekend hours will remain the same.

“We strongly recommend that people who have non-Covid illnesses or injuries that are minor, but cannot wait for a GP appointment, still make use of the service.”

He added that x-ray services will not be available at the UCC, and people should contact their GP first for most minor and ongoing chronic complaints.

Dr Okereke said: “As soon as we are able we will return to our usual operating hours for the UCC, and will provide an update in two weeks.”