Minor injury units

Summary of services provided at this hospital

The Minor Injury Units (MIUs) are staffed by experienced nurses and patients that attend one of the units will be assessed and treated as quickly as possible. If your condition cannot be dealt with at the Minor Injuries Unit, then you will be referred to your GP or nearest Accident and Emergency department (A&E) or to another appropriate service.

Gilly Scott talks about MIUs in Shropshire

[ Read text transcript of video ]

Video Transcript

Shropshire's Minor Injury Units (MIUs)

I'm Gilly Scott and I'm the Clinical Lead for minor injuries for Shropshire Community Health Trust and I'm going to be talking to you about minor injuries in Shropshire. There are four minor injuries units: one based at Oswestry (where we are today), minor injuries at Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Whitchurch - all based within the community hospitals.

So what type of people do you normally see at the MIUs?

Within the minor injuries units, we will see a broad age range, from the very small to the very old. When the patients come in, we triage them and assess them, and hopefully be able to deal with the patients within the minor injuries setting; if not, we'll be able to refer them to the appropriate place.

We will see a wide range of patients who will perhaps be minor injuries, loss of consciousness, eye problems, sprains, strains, broken bones, soft tissue injuries and cuts and grazes.

So why are MIUs based in the community?

Minor injury units are based within the community so that people can choose well and have care close to home, so that they are seen for minor injuries within the units here, and if they need more emergency care, they go to the A&E department.

Why are MIUs important to Shropshire?

The major objective for minor injuries in Shropshire is to assist the A&E departments to keep their patients who are just emergencies seen there, and the more minor injuries seen within the units which are close to home. That way, they can really concentrate on the patients who are very poorly, and those with minor injuries can come close to home, to the minor injury units.

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Find out more about Shropshire's MIUs by going to www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/miu

Follow Shropshire's MIU on Twitter at: @ShropshireMIUs

[ Hide text transcript of video ]

The Minor Injuries Units offer treatment to anyone with a minor injury. There is no age limit.

This is a walk-in service and you do not need to be referred or to make an appointment, but please note the Minor Injuries Units are not open 24 hours.

Your GP or other healthcare professionals may refer you to the MIU, and some patients are brought into the units by the ambulance service.

Specific services offered

Staff at the Minor Injuries Units treat:

  • Bites, human and animal
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Foreign bodies in the eyes, nose and ears
  • Fractures that require plaster only
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness)
  • Soft tissue injuries, for example sprains and bruises
  • Wound infections

The people we see

The MIUs see all patients with minor injuries, such as those listed above. There are no age limits, and you do not have to be a resident in Shropshire to use the facilities.

Minor injury treatment

Patient referral process

This is a self-referral service for people requiring treatment for minor injuries. This means that you do not need an appointment to come to the service. Just come to any of the MIUs during the opening times.

Please note, the MIUs do not operate 24 hours a day. If the units are closed, please call Shropdoc or NHS Direct on the contact numbers opposite,

What to bring with you to a clinic or overnight hospital stay

If at all possible please bring any regular medications you are taking with you to the minor injuries unit. It may be useful for a friend or family member to accompany you.

Information for patients and visitors

The units are staffed by experienced nurses and you will be assessed and treated in accordance with the Trust's treatment protocols.

There are no age restrictions on the specific services offered.

Leaflets regarding injuries and self care are provided to patients on discharge from the minor unjuries unit.

Services we do not offer

We do not see patients suffering from the following:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Alcohol-related problems
  • Breathing problems
  • Chest pain
  • Drug overdose
  • Gynaecology problems
  • Health conditions usually treated by a GP
  • Mental health problems

If you have any of the above conditions you should contact your GP, NHS Direct or, if it is a life-threatening injury or situation, then call for an ambulance by dialling 999.

Frequently asked questions

What can I come to minor injuries units with?
  • Bites, human and animal
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Foreign bodies in the eyes, nose and ears
  • Fractures that require plaster only
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness)
  • Soft tissue injuries, for example sprains and bruises
  • Wound infections
Do I need to be referred?

No, this is a walk in (self-referral) service.

 

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and our "Local Offer"

What is the Local Offer?

The local offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. You can find out more about information about this on our SEND reforms and Local Offers page.

Service Description

The Minor Injuries Units offer treatment to anyone with a minor injury. There is no age limit.

This is a walk-in service and you do not need to be referred or to make an appointment, but please note the Minor Injuries Units are not open 24 hours.

What do you provide to children and young people with an additional need and or disability 0-25yrs?

Extra time to treat, 1:1 care, specialist paediatric rooms, encouragement of carers to be present.

Who can use our service? Age? Disability?

Any

How to access our service (inc. referral routes)

This is a self-referral service for people requiring treatment for minor injuries. This means that you do not need an appointment to come to the service. Just come to any of the MIUs during the opening times.

When and where is our service available?

All contact details (phone, fax and email), locations, and opening times are provided in the right-hand column of this page.

How to find out about the service

Website, leaflets and posters in GP surgeries

How can families contact the service?

Families can contact this service either by direct walk-in or phone (contact details above; please see right-hand column).

Please be aware that MIUs cannot provide assessments or treatment over the telephone or by email.

For external agencies: is the service free or charged?

Free, although prescription charges apply.

Is the service accredited? If so, by whom?

Care Quality Commission

How can families complain if they are not happy with the service?

All complaints are handled by our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints teams.

 

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