Dates set for Trowbridge and Paulton Minor injury Units to reopen

The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Trowbridge Community Hospital will reopen for referrals from NHS 111 and GPs from Monday 15 February after closing temporarily last month so staff could be redeployed to help care for the rising number of patients requiring treatment for Covid-19.Trowbridge MIU will have appointments available 7 days a week from 10:00 hrs – 1800 hrs for patients who have contacted NHS 111 either by phone or online and are referred for an MIU appointment. It will not be open to ‘walk in’ patients. This change in service has been designed to maintain the safety of patients and staff and is in line with the national campaign to ‘Think 111 First’. Paulton MIU will reopen on Monday 22 February from 08.00 hrs – 20.00 hrs every day including weekends, also for patients who have booked appointments through 111 or have been referred for an MIU appointment. Patients will not be able to directly book an appointment. NHS 111 will continue to triage all appointments and if a patient meets the criteria they will be referred to the unit and a member of staff will call them back to arrange an appointment. Anyone with a life threatening condition should call 999. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend any medical setting unless explicitly directed to do so by the NHS 111 service or a 999 call operator.Minor Injury Units offer a facility for treating injuries that are not serious, such as sprains and strains; minor burns and scalds, wound infections, insect and animal bites, and minor injuries to the eye, head. They are not specifically equipped to treat more serious conditions such as stab wounds or chest pains.