The units will provide local residents 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.
“The MIUs are staffed by experienced Nurses and specifically trained Emergency Nurse Practitioners,” comments Gilly Scott, Clinical Lead for the MIU service at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust. “They are trained to be able to treat a range of different conditions which means that local people can get local care.
“May Bank Holiday is often a time when people like 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 the MIU team at the units across the county.
“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 re-open after the Bank Holiday.”
The MIU at the 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 (incl 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 7 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.