The hospital's Executive Officer/Director of Nursing, Ann Bodill, said the centre, which is open from 8am until 6pm daily, had a great team of doctors and nurses.

"There is always a doctor in the Urgent Care Centre, during these hours, who is supported by our experienced nursing staff," Mrs Bodill said.

"Our X-ray department also is open from 8am to 6pm daily, seven days a week, including all public holidays, which means outpatient X-rays can be carried out any day of the week.

"Busy full-time workers can visit the centre on the weekend and we are here late enough to help children after school.

The Urgent Care Centre has been open since March last year, treating moderate to minor injuries and illness such as lacerations, fractures and muscular skeletal injury.

Urgent medical condition exacerbations such as mild and moderate asthma, chest infection, and viral illness can also be treated.

The Urgent Care Centre does not have the capacity to see patients requiring emergency department care - such as chest pain, abdominal pain, urgent pregnancy related conditions, moderate and severe trauma or acute neurological conditions.

"Our Urgent Care Centre is well equipped to handle many illnesses and injuries right here in Wauchope, however, anyone requiring after-hours or specialist treatment must go to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

"The Wauchope community is a great supporter of our local hospital, and our staff and patients really do appreciate that support."

Mrs Bodill said the start of a new year was a great opportunity for Wauchope residents to look around their homes for borrowed hospital equipment.

"We provide many patients with equipment, such as walking aids, to assist their recovery."

"The start of the new year is a good opportunity for former patients to return borrowed items to the hospital so they can be used to assist new patients in the year ahead."