Press Release
5th January 2011
MUI Lichfield & Tamworth
The Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) at Lichfield’s Samuel Johnson Community Hospital and Tamworth’s Sir Robert Peel hospital have cared for a record number of patients over the festive period.
Anne Rollason, Community Hospitals Matron, said: “We have had another very busy festive period with around 700 patients seen over the Christmas weekend and around a further 700 seen over the weekend of the New Year.
“The MIUs attract a great variety of conditions. This year we treated people with trips, bumps and falls, minor head injuries, minor burns, lacerations, respiratory problems, asthma, allergies, rashes, sore throats, ear ache and eye problems.
“We are well aware that nobody wants to be in a hospital waiting room over the Christmas or New Year period and we always do our best to ensure that patients are seen as soon as possible. This is evident in the fact that none of patients over the two weekends had to wait particularly long to be seen and treated by a clinician.”
Open 24/7 and led by highly experienced Nurse Practitioners the MIUs are one of many effective alternatives to visiting your local A&E. A&E departments based at the main hospitals are for life-threatening and emergency conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, breathing problems and serious accidents. We need to make sure that A&E services are free to help the people who really need them.
“Up to one out of every four people who go to A&E could have either self-treated or used an alternative local service such as a MIU, avoiding what can be a stressful visit to hospital.
“The number of people attending Accident and Emergency Departments is growing each year. Nationally, there were 3 per cent more A&E visits between October and December 2010 compared to the same period the previous year. This is adding extra pressure to the NHS and its staff, who are dedicated to treating patients.
“Historically most people, if they need the NHS, consider visiting either their GP or A&E or dialling 999 but the NHS offers many more ways for people to get the right treatment.
“In many instances pharmacies are a good choice. They can help give advice and over the counter remedies for diarrhoea, minor infections, headaches, coughs and colds. For non-life-threatening minor injuries, people should consider heading to their local Minor injuries Unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital or Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital.”
Anyone who is unsure on the best course of action can always ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice and reassurance they’re doing the right thing.
It’s a good idea to make sure your GP surgery, local Out of Hours number and NHS Direct are saved into your mobile phone so you can quickly and easily call for advice if you’ve had a minor accident.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Formed in 1983 as an NHS Trust and acquiring Foundation status in November 2008, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the principal provider of acute hospital services for the residents of East Staffordshire, Tamworth, Lichfield, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire, including services at two community hospitals, Samuel Johnson in Lichfield and Sir Robert Peel in Tamworth.
Issued by Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Communications Team, Queen’s Hospital, Belvedere Road, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire DE13 0RB.
If you require any further information, please contact Adam Prince, Corporate Development Officer, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on 01283 566333 ext 5907 or email adam.prince@burtonft.nhs.uk or visit www.burtonhospitals.nhs.uk