A PILOT, which has extended the opening hours of the Bromsgrove Minor Injury Unit (MIU) and X-ray department, will carry on until next year.

Patients attending Bromsgrove’s minor injury unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital will benefit from increased weekend opening hours and seven-day x-ray services until March 2023.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, who run the unit, say they have seen a 52 per cent increase in weekend attendance since the launch of the initial pilot in the summer.

Dawn Shaw, matron and MIU Lead said: “The changes have enabled many patients with suspected breaks or fractures to access both x-ray and treatment onsite, without being redirected to an acute hospital.

“We hope that further extension to our weekend opening times and x-ray provision will encourage more people needing treatment for a minor injury to attend their local MIU, helping to reduce pressures on our local emergency departments”

The unit is currently open from 8 am to 8 pm daily, with x-ray services now available between 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week.

The team, which includes emergency nurse practitioners offer advice and treatment for a variety of injuries including cuts, grazes, wounds, sprains, minor eye injuries, strains, and minor burns.