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22/05/2013 - Permalink

Bank Holiday injuries – know where to go

Related topics: Health / Partner organisations

News from our partners Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust

Injuries from tools and machinery account for nearly 40% of all injuries of DIY enthusiasts turning up at hospital every year (RoSPA, 2010), and with another Bank Holiday coming up this week, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust is reminding Shropshire patients what their options are if they need care for a minor injury. 

People across the county are being reminded that a local Minor Injury Unit (MIU) in either Oswestry, Ludlow or Bridgnorth can provide them with an alternative to travelling to an A&E department, if they need treatment for a minor injury over the May Bank Holiday period. 

By making use of the more local service, patients may not have to wait so long to be seen, and they will also be helping to keep main hospital A&E departments free for those with the most serious or life-threatening conditions. 

The MIUs are open across the weekend and Bank Holiday (except Whitchurch MIU, which is temporarily suspended at the weekend and Bank Holiday, and will reopen from 9am till 5pm on weekdays from Tuesday 28 May 2013) and treat a range of conditions, including:

  • cuts and lacerations
  • soft tissue injuries, for example, sprains and bruises
  • bites
  • wound infections
  • foreign bodies in the eyes, nose or ears
  • head injuries (with no loss of consciousness)
  • fractures that require plaster only
  • burns and scalds. 

Gilly Scott, Clinical Lead for the MIU service at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said:

“The MIUs are staffed by experienced nurses and specifically-trained emergency nurse practitioners.  They are trained to be able to treat a range of different conditions which means that local people can get local care. 

“Bank Holiday is often a time when people like dust down their tools and to do some DIY, and we often see people come to the MIU with cuts, sprains or other DIY-related problems.  Most of these can be treated quickly by one of the county’s MIU teams, rather than having to go to an A&E department.” 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA, 2010) highlights that the top ten of DIY injuries are: 

  • Knives and scalpels (21,300 accidents in the UK each year)
  • Saws (15,100)
  • Grinders (6,400)
  • Hammers (5,800)
  • Chisels (3,900)
  • Screwdrivers (3,400)
  • Power Drills (3,000)
  • Axes (2,200)
  • Planes (2,100)
  • Welding Equipment (2,000). 

Gilly Scott continues:

“If we are not able to treat a specific condition, we will provide advice on the best place to go – this may be to a pharmacy, A&E department, or may be a phone call to their doctors when they reopen after the Bank Holiday.” 

The MIU at Oswestry Health Centre is open 8.30am until 1pm everyday, weekend and on Bank Holiday Monday.  Normal weekday opening hours are 8.30am until 6pm. 

The MIU at Bridgnorth Hospital is open 8am until 9.30pm everyday (including Bank Holiday Monday). 

The MIU at the Ludlow Hospital is open 8am until 8pm everyday, including Bank Holiday Monday. 

Local people in Whitchurch and surrounding areas are being reminded that the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Whitchurch Hospital is temporarily suspended over weekends and this includes Bank Holiday Monday, but will reopen from 9am till 5pm on weekdays from Tuesday 28 May. 

Patients that have chest pains, major head injuries or who face life threatening health conditions should not come to the MIU; they should call for an ambulance on 999. 

When the MIU is closed, medical cover will be provided by Shropdoc (which can be called on 08444 06 88 88), but anyone who has chest pains, difficulty breathing or faces a life-threatening situation should call for an ambulance on 999. 

Further information 

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust is the NHS organisation responsible for providing community health services to the people of Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin. It has brought together and directly provides the health services previously provided by Shropshire County PCT and NHS Telford and Wrekin. 

For more information about the Trust contact Mathew James, Communications and Marketing Manager on 01743 277662, or email mathew.james@shropcom.nhs.uk.