BROMSGROVE’S new £1.6million Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) officially opened its doors at 8am this morning.
The ribbon was cut by Dawn Shaw, the countywide Minor Injury Unit lead, and the first patients were welcomed through the door.
The unit sees an average of 320 patients-a-week across seven days. The MIU has a new waiting room and reception area, five treatment rooms, a dedicated resus bay, a specialist eye injuries room and a plaster room.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
The new unit came about with the moving of the breast screening to a mobile unit on the site.
And the MIU is now conveniently located next to the existing X-ray department, further streamlining the patient journey and enhancing diagnostic efficiency.
Dawn said: “The new unit provides our team of skilled emergency nurse practitioners with the resources needed to treat a wide range of minor injuries.
“This includes burns, breaks, sprains, strains, and minor eye injuries.
“Those with minor injuries can walk-in to any of Worcestershire’s minor injury units without needing an appointment.
“For anyone unsure whether an MIU is the right choice, NHS 111 offers guidance and advice helping to direct you to the right service.”
Minor Injury Units (MIUs) offer advice and treatment for a variety of injuries including cuts, grazes, wounds, sprains, minor eye injuries, strains and minor burns.
The county’s MIUs in Bromsgrove, Evesham, Malvern and Tenbury are run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. And there is also Kidderminster, which is run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
MIUs are unable treat illnesses.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
Where and when to seek advice
Patients needing advice or treatment for an illness are encouraged to contact their GP or NHS111.
The Minor Injuries Unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days-a-week (including bank holidays).
The last patient of the day is booked in at 7.30pm.
The X-ray department is open between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.
MIUs are often not as busy as A&E departments and patients, if they have minor injuries, can get seen a lot quicker.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
A&Es should still be used for life-threatening emergencies, including chest pains, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, strokes, heavy blood loss and breathing difficulties,
