A new minor injuries unit at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh will help reduce long waits for patients at A&E and direct people to the most relevant care for their needs. The new facility has been welcomed by Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP.
The new £3.8 million unit is made up of six treatment bays, one treatment room and a plaster room, plus a separate reception and waiting area. It has a dedicated entrance and patients are encouraged to self-refer directly to minor injuries on arrival. The unit will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Visiting the new facility, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This new unit is a great addition to complement the A&E services at the Royal Infirmary. It will help to reduce the number of people attending A&E by ensuring patients are directed to the most appropriate care for them. This in turn means that people are not waiting longer than they should be for treatment.
“Our £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan sets out our aim to significantly improve the experience of patients waiting to be seen or treated. The new unit at the Royal Infirmary is a positive step towards achieving this.”
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “The Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is proving to be a great addition to our unscheduled care services in NHS Lothian.
“Between 80 to 100 patients receive swift and effective care in the new unit every day. Our dedicated team works to treat everything from soft tissue injuries to burns, cuts, breaks and sprains.
“While it makes sense for patient care, it also helps to improve patient safety by reducing the numbers of patients in the Accident and Emergency department to make sure that those with serious and life-threatening injury and illness are given priority.”
Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “This is a good decision by NHS Lothian to open up a Minor Injury Unit at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh to help reduce waiting times.
“Over the last year there has been growing pressure on A&E services in NHS Lothian, with A&E waiting targets being missed for most of the year.
“Improvement can already be seen at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh’s A&E with steady improvements in the number of patients being seen within the four hour waiting time target.
“The opening of a Minor Injury Unit will take pressure of staff as well as allowing patients not to have to wait as long to have minor injuries seen.”
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