Public sessions will give an update on changes to Minor Injury Unit opening hours in Huntly, Fraserburgh and Peterhead.
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Three public drop-in sessions are set to be held in Huntly, Peterhead and Fraserburgh ahead of their Minor Injury Units changing their opening hours for appointments to 8.30am to 7pm, seven days a week from Monday, July 1..
Working with partners such as GMED, the Aberdeenshire HSCP has organised the events, one in each town, to meet with communities to explore any impacts the changes may have and offer advice on what services are available overnight and how to access them.
Fraserburgh: - Thursday, May 30 from 3pm-7pm, Robertson Road Resource Centre.
Peterhead: - Wednesday, June 5, 3-7pm, Rescue Hall, 25 Prince Street..
Huntly: - Monday, June 10, 3-7pm, Stewarts Hall, Gordon Street.
Vice Chair of the IJB,John Tomlinson, said: “The decision to alter the opening hours of the three MIUs overnight was not an easy one for our IJB to make as we recognise the value that our communities placed on the overnight service. Officers have thoroughly investigated the data that has been collected across the three MIUs and given the low number of minor injury presentations overnight we are confident that there will be enough capacity during the day for people to be seen. This will also mean that our X-ray units will be open when the majority minor injury appointments will be scheduled. Like much of the public sector we are facing significant budgetary pressures and will need to make efficiencies and savings of over £20m this financial year in addition to the £77m that NHS Grampian is required to save.”
Data from the Aberdeenshire HSCP shows that in Huntly the maximum patients seen in the unit per night during the monitoring period is three and this happened on one night with a further 17 nights in the month with no presentations of Minor Injuries.
In Peterhead the maximum number of patients seen in the unit per night is five and this happened on one night with a further eight nights with no presentations of minor injuries
In Fraserburgh the maximum patients seen in the unit per night is four and this happened on one night with a further seven nights with no presentations of minor injuries.
Responding to the issue of the MIUs remain open during the day at the weekend, a spokesperson for AHSCP said; “Yes, the MIUs would continue to operate as they do just now at the weekend. Often this will mean that people will still have to travel into Aberdeen if their injury is more severe than our staff can treat or if the person injured is very young.”
They continued: “There is Minor Injury provision in Dr Grays in Elgin and in ARI in Aberdeen - the ARI service closes at 8pm every night. Calling 111 will direct you to the most appropriate service for your needs.The MIUs can only treat a very limited number of injuries and should not treat any illnesses. The Out of Hours GP Service (GMED) for those who are in urgent need of medical treatment but who cannot wait until their GP practice opens, will continue to operate overnight. Often both services in Aberdeenshire operate from the same building and both are accessed by calling NHS24 on 111 which can lead to confusion as to which service people are accessing.”
Your local Minor Injury Unit (MIU) can treat you if you have:
• Cuts and wounds (including those that may need stitches)
• Minor burns and scalds
• Sprains, minor injuries, or broken bones – in legs below the knee, and arms below the shoulder, where you can bear the weight through your foot or move your fingers (our experienced staff can arrange x-rays and apply plaster if required)
• Insect bites or other animal bites – so long as not severe
• Minor head injury – where there has been no loss of consciousness or vomiting, and no residual symptoms i.e., headache, nausea, visual disturbance, dizziness or any other symptom of concussion.
• Removal of foreign bodies from eyes, nose, or ears
• Nose injuries and broken noses
• Removal of rings, earrings, and studs.
The MIU’s do not deal with illnesses – stomach upset, cough or high temperature should be directed to self-care, local pharmacy or GP/111. Anything life threatening such as chest pain or suspected stroke should call 999.
