Patients with minor injuries are being encouraged to attend local Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) to access faster healthcare advice and treatment.

There is a dedicated MIU at Stirling Health and Care Village and a minor injuries service at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

MIU staff can treat a vast range of injuries and patients can organise a face-to-face appointment by calling NHS24 first on 111 so they don’t have to wait to be seen when they attend. They can also arrange a video or telephone consultation at home with a minor injury practitioner who can provide urgent healthcare advice and organise an appointment, if required.

Tracey Archibald, Lead Nurse for Advanced Practice in the Emergency Department, NHS Forth Valley, said: “Organising a video or telephone consultation via NHS 24 can avoid the need for people to travel to a local MIU however, if they do need to be seen, they can arrange an appointment at a time which suits them to avoid a longer wait. It also helps reduce pressure on the Emergency Department and frees up staff to see patients with more serious injuries and illnesses.”

“Patients who attend our local MIUs without an appointment will still be seen but they may wait for longer and, in some cases, could have avoided a trip if they had spoken to a local healthcare professional first. If you attend ED with a minor injury that does not require immediate treatment you will be assessed and given an appointment for the MIU service, this may be the next day, if appropriate.”

MIUs can treat the following injuries:

• Sprains and strains
• Broken bones (X-ray and plaster room facilities are available in the MIU)
• Minor burns and scalds
• Minor head injuries
• Cuts and wounds (including those that may need stitches)
• Insect bites or other animal bites
• Tetanus immunisation after an injury
• Removal of foreign bodies from eyes, nose or ears
• Nose injuries and broken noses
• Removal of rings, earrings and studs.

If you attend ED with a minor injury that is not urgent/requiring immediate treatment you will be triaged and given an appointment for the minor’s service, this may be the next day if appropriate.

Further Information on MIU is available on the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/miu