THE walking wounded have been flocking to a new health centre in Leigh which has dealt with 25,000 patients since it opened last year.

More than 100 patients are turning up each day at the Leigh walk-in centre -- an increase of more than 100 per cent since it ran as a minor injuries unit before June 2000.

People suffering sprains, strains and other minor ailments have flooded the new service in the 10 months it has been running.

The nurse led service, which does not have any doctors on site, allows patients to drop in for treatment and advice without an appointment.

Project manager, Elaine Egan-Morris, said: "We have focused on developing services that are modern, convenient and accessible to the busy local population.

"Our services are available from 7am to 10pm every day of the year. People like the fact that it is so easy to access high quality primary health care."

Eighty five per cent of the patients attending the walk-in centre have visited before. This is proof that people are satisfied with the care that they are receiving."