UNPRECEDENTED pressure on the county’s A&E departments has sparked an appeal for residents with non life-threatening conditions to seek treatment elsewhere.
Health bosses are urging residents to use the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Bromsgrove’s Princess of Wales Community Hospital to lighten the work load being put on A&E staff.
The waiting times for people to be seen at the MIU is also dramatically lower than in A&E.
By using the correct department residents will not only be seen more quickly but they would free up A&E staff to help people whose lives are actually in danger and in need of emergency care.
Non-emergency treatment are things such as cuts, grazes, wounds, sprains, strains and minor burns – all of which should be dealt with by MIU.
GPs should be contacted for conditions such as colds, coughs, urine, chest or ear infections.
Dawn Shaw, MIU Lead at the hospital, said the service was regularly audited to ensure they provided a good standard of service.
He added the most recent patient experience audit revealed 89 per cent of those who visited MIU would highly recommend it.
Mr Shaw said: “Our MIU is just quick and easy, and we are a very friendly team.
“Patients particularly appreciate the fact that they are seen and treated by one person.
“We are also very good with children, who make up half of our patients, and have a dedicated waiting area for them.”
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