NHS Lanarkshire is encouraging residents to use their local Minor Injury Unit (MIU) for prompt and efficient care for minor injuries.
There are currently three MIUs in Lanarkshire – at University Hospital Hairmyres, University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Wishaw – which are open from 9am to 9pm every day.
Dr Gordon McNeish, NHS Lanarkshire Associate Medical Director for Unscheduled Care, said: “Minor Injury Units are designed to treat non-life-threatening injuries quickly, ensuring people receive the care they need without overwhelming emergency departments.
“Minor injuries are non-life or limb threatening conditions such as joint sprains, muscle strains, bruises, clean cuts where the bleeding is minimal, burns smaller than the palm of your hand and minor bone breaks or fractures.
“Although most of these injuries can cause pain, they do not tend to lead to serious complications. The majority of minor injuries could wait to receive better care during day time. You should also phone NHS24 on 111 if you are unsure whether your injury requires immediate care. They can sometimes arrange for a clinician to contact you for a telephone or virtual assessment when available.”
While the MIUs share the same entrance and reception as the emergency department, they have dedicated assessment areas and staffing. During opening hours, the MIU is staffed by expert clinicians who focus on providing better care and advice for people with minor injuries.”
Outwith the opening hours, the emergency department has a limited number of clinicians who need to focus their resources and skills on delivering timely care to patients with major conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, breathing problems, major trauma or sepsis.
Dr McNeish added: “If you have suffered a minor injury, we recommend that you do not attend the emergency department after 9pm. We ask that you consider attending the minor injury unit when it is open – between 9am and 9pm. However, if you are concerned that your injury is significant then the emergency department is always available and can triage your injury, offer advice and provide treatment.”
Individuals in any of the following categories should attend the emergency department at any time to see the triage nurse:
- Children aged under 12
- Adults aged over 75
- People with dementia
- Individuals who sustained head injuries with either lost consciousness, vomiting or are on blood thinning medications
- Individuals who sustained neck or spine injuries and either have limb weakness or difficulty walking
- Limb injuries with obvious deformity
- Wounds that are very deep or will not stop bleeding
Dr McNeish added: “By attending the minor injury units from 9am to 9pm, you would be supporting our clinicians to focus on the sickest and most vulnerable patients. After 9pm, minor injury patients wait to be seen in the main body of the emergency department. Ultimately, they can wait long times to be seen and can contribute to overcrowding in the waiting area.
“We believe you would get much better care for your minor injury and have a better experience during the opening hours of MIU.”
