X-RAYS are available at weekends throughout March at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital Minor Injury Units (MIU) in Bromsgrove, writes Ellie Taylor.
The service is being extended in response to the growing pressure on emergency departments, such as those at Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital and the Worcestershire Royal.
Across Worcestershire, MIUs provide healthcare throughout weekends for a variety of non-life-threatening injuries such as sprains, simple fractures, cuts, burns, minor head injuries, and wound infections.
The change began at the start of the month and will continue for the rest of it (with the exception of next Sunday, March 22).
X-rays are also available at weekends at Malvern Community Hospital.
The expansion of the X-ray services will increase diagnostic support across the county by providing patients with quicker diagnostic assessments for minor injuries and aims to ease the pressure on urgent and emergency care settings.
Dan Marshall, Matron for County Wide Minor Injury Units, said “These additional X-ray sessions will make a real difference for patients who need timely assessments for minor injuries.
“By increasing access locally, we’re helping people get the right care sooner while also reducing pressures on our busy emergency departments.”
When suitable, residents are encouraged to increase the use of their local MIUs to help reduce waiting times and maintain capacity in busy emergency departments.
Waiting times at MIUs are often a lot lower than they are at the county’s A&Es.
Visit the trust’s website at: hacw.nhs.uk/MIU for more information on MIU and X-ray opening times.
Anyone needing urgent health advice should contact NHS111 online or by phone.
