The move into a different gate of the hospital is being made to improve the flow of patients through our urgent and emergency services, ensuring that people are seen in the right place, first time.
Minor injuries include sprains, strains, broken bones, minor burns, wounds and minor head injuries.
The service will run from 8am – 10pm seven days a week with a dedicated team of nurses, doctors, emergency practitioners and extended scope physiotherapists on hand to see and treat patients who attend the unit.
Patients who need the support of the team, but cannot be seen before the unit closes, might be given an appointment to return the following day.
If the Minor Injuries team feel a patient needs care in the Emergency Department they will arrange for transfer. Equally, the Emergency Department will direct people to the Minor Injuries Unit at Gate 24 if their injury can be treated there.
People who require an X-ray will be seen at Gate 18, across the Brunel Atrium from the Minor Injuries Unit at Gate 24.
Emergency Department Matron, Anna Bell, said: “Having a dedicated Minor Injuries Unit located separately from our busy Emergency Department will enable us to improve the experience of all our urgent and emergency patients by ensuring we are seeing everyone in the space that is most appropriate to their needs.
“Our team of doctors, nursing and therapy staff specifically trained in minor injuries will be here to help people with minor injuries, such as sprains, breaks, cuts, wounds and minor burns in a setting more suitable for their needs, while enabling us to also improve the flow of patients through our Emergency Department.”
Outpatient Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy will move out of Gate 24 into a new hub behind the Brunel building, which also opens on 16 November, ahead of the Minor Injuries move.
Hydrotherapy will remain at Gate 24.