Minor Injury Units

The way that we provide healthcare in Gwent is changing


Take a look at the following video which tells you what our Minor Injury Units can offer you.


Adults and children over one year old with a wide range of injuries can be treated at our Minor Injury Units.  These Units are run by an experienced team of highly skilled specially-trained Emergency Nurse Practitioners, Triage Nurses and Health Care Support Workers.  You can visit one of our Units for:

  • Limb injuries which include broken bones (fractures) and minor joint dislocations
  • Wounds, grazes and minor burns
  • Head injuries provided there is no loss of consciousness or taking blood thinning drugs
  • Face injuries provided there is no loss of consciousness
  • Minor neck injuries provided that the patient is mobile, has no pins and needles in arms and has not fallen from a height greater than 5 stairs or 1 metre
  • Minor back injuries provided that the patient is mobile, has no pins and needles in the legs, has not fallen from a height greater than 5 stairs or 1 metre
  • Eye, ear and nose injuries and foreign bodies
  • Rib injuries
  • Insect, animal and human bites

 

And the following can be provided:

  • Access to x-rays
  • Wound closure including stitching and gluing
  • Application of dressings
  • Application of plaster casts, splints, strappings and slings
  • Reduction of minor joint dislocations
  • Removal of foreign bodies
  • Eye washouts
  • Administration of medication to treat the injury
  • Administration of tetanus vaccines for injuries only

 

Minor Injury Units cannot treat:

  • Colds, coughs, sore throats, earache, rashes, temperatures
  • Urinary infections, cystitis or catheter problems
  • Dental problems
  • Accident with injury to abdomen/ stomach
  • Abdominal pain
  • Chest pain
  • Collapse
  • Breathing problems
  • Stroke
  • Overdose and poisoning
  • Painful limbs, joints or backs (not caused by an injury)
  • Skin complaints including boils and rashes
  • Wounds that have not been caused during an accident

 

Getting the right care

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. To get help from NHS 111, you can:

 - go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
 - call 111

You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone and you can ask for a translator if you need one. Depending on the situation you will:

 - find out what local service can help you
 - be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
 - get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
 - be told how to get any medicine you need
 - get self-care advice

If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, you should call 999