He's known for speaking out about the occasional failings of the public health system.But Dr Thomas Carrigan says he strongly supports replacing Bulli Hospital's emergency department (ED) with a clinic for minor illnesses."This is not something that was thought about last week, this is something that's been in evolution for six or seven years," said the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District area director of emergency medicine."I think this is a positive move for Bulli Hospital, this isn't about closing it, it's about upgrading it and making that department more effective."The Mercury yesterday revealed NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner had endorsed plans to replace the ED with an urgent care centre.The centre would treat minor illnesses that warrant a visit to hospital but are not serious enough to require a fully-fledged emergency department.Dr Carrigan said the plan would not make Wollongong Hospital busier."You might think this means you get more and more patients at Wollongong but people who come there to be triaged will now have an option that, if they have a minor injury, they could possibly go to the Bulli Hospital urgent care centre where waiting times may actually be shorter," he said.The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District board met last night to endorse the plan.However, chairman Denis King stressed views would still be sought through a community consultation process beginning shortly."Our view is what we've proposed provides the best balance, but at the end of the day it's not our money, it's the community's money and they're also the patients," Professor King said."So the next step is that we go to the people who have an interest, the community, the staff and more specific parties, and talk to each of them and tell them what we're trying to achieve."The urgent care centre would only be open from 8am to 8pm. The ED is open 24 hours but handles as few as five presentations at night.Dr Carrigan said it had been "somewhat frustrating" that past attempts to realign the emergency department never eventuated.If the transition to an urgent care centre can be made, it would attract more permanent staff, become a training ground for medical students and have the capacity to handle nearly double the 20 to 25 patients it now treats daily."I think we're looking at a better strategy for delivering better and faster patient care," he said.