PATIENTS in Prestwich and Whitefield with minor ailments or in need of medical advice will be able to make use of a new nursing service.

In the run-up to the opening of the new NHS Walk-in-Centre in Prestwich, a nurse practitioner will be working from ten GPs' surgeries.

The Prestwich surgeries are at Rectory Lane; Whittaker Lane Medical Centre; Greylands Medical Centre; The Birches Medical Centre; St Gabriel's Medical Centre; Dr Prabhakar, Dr Moss, and Dr Ralph all based at Prestwich Health Centre.

In Whitefield, they are at Elms Medical Centre and Uplands Medical Practice.

Patients registered at these surgeries, who do not need to see the doctor, but need medical advice or treatment, will be able to see the nurse by making an appointment with the surgery receptionist.

The new Walk-in-Centre on Fairfax Road, Prestwich, is due to open in June or July, after which patients will not need to make an appointment and be able to drop into the centre next to Prestwich Health Centre. The centre will be open every day of the year including weekends and Bank Holidays from early in the morning to late in the evening.

The service will be available to everyone, even people who work but do not live in the area.

Mrs Anne Coates, director of strategy and service development at Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "We are very excited to be able to offer this new service in the south of Bury. As a forerunner to the full opening of the Walk-in Centre in Prestwich this summer, the new nursing service will be an important resource for patients.

"Patients who do not need to see their GP will be able to see a highly qualified, experienced NHS nurse."