Patients praise Minor Injuries Unit service at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda
People who have urgent but not life-threatening injuries are being encouraged to visit Minor Injuries Units for treatment.
The Units, which are based in Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda and Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, can deal with fractures and joint dislocations, wounds, minor back and neck injuries, bites, eye, ear and nose injuries.
Patients who visit the units are able to receive care for these types of injuries and will often be treated much more quickly than if they attend A&E, with one hour being the average waiting time in Ysbyty Cwm Cynon.
As well as waiting less time to be treated, visiting the units could save patients travelling time, as those who have minor injuries and attend A&E departments could still be referred to the Minor Injuries Units.
Mum Kirsty Tipple, from Trealaw, phoned for an appointment at the MIU at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda after her daughter Kadi, eight, fell off her bed at home and hurt her arm. After an X-ray ruled out a fracture, Kadi’s sore arm was strapped up by a nurse.
“It was quicker than going to A&E at the Royal Glam. I rung at ten to ten. They rung me back quarter past and the appointment was 20 past 12 so it’s pretty quick,” said Kirsty.
“It’s much quicker than going down and having to wait in a two to three hours queue. You just come for your appointment and it’s done.”
Patient Pat Williams, 74, from Mountain Ash, a retired carer and retail worker, arrived at the MIU at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon after slicing the skin off a knuckle with a pair of scissors.
She tried to treat the wound herself but after a few days it had become inflamed and sore. A nurse at the unit cleaned and dressed her wound and gave her a course of antibiotics as the injury appeared infected.
Pat said: “I arrived in reception and explained my situation. My husband was still parking the car when I was called to see the nurse. I wasn’t in reception more than five minutes. How convenient is that?”
Cheryl Davies, Sister and Emergency Nurse Practitioner at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, said: “A Minor Injuries Unit deals with urgent but non-life threatening events such as broken limbs, sprains, strains, human bites, foreign bodies in their eyes, nose, ears. It covers many aspects of care and we have lots of facilities on site.
“The benefit is the lack of waiting time. On our busiest day our waiting time is approximately an hour whereas in a main A&E department it can be four hours plus.
“Patients who attend to the main A&E department are often referred here if their waiting time is excessive – they will say ‘that’s a minor injury, you need to go YCC.’”
The opening times for Minor Injury Units are:
Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda, Llywnypia – 9am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri (excluding Bank Holidays).
The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) located at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda works on a phone first basis. This means you need to call the unit before attending. The Phone First number for is 01443 444 075.
Ysbyty Cwm Cynon, Mountain Ash – 9am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri (excluding Bank Holidays). No appointments are necessary at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon. For any further information please contact Minor Injury Unit on 01443 715200.
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