New-look minor injuries and illness unit unveiled

Company news

Mar 11, 2015

THE Minor Injuries and Illness Unit at Wycombe Hospital has unveiled its revamped look at an open day attended by members of the public and local dignitaries.

New services and redecorated public areas have made the unit in Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, even more appealing to patients.

New digital x-ray facilities on-site mean patients no longer need to go to the hospital’s main x-ray facilities, reducing waiting times. New diagnostic facilities mean extremely high quality images are being produced, making diagnosis easier and potentially faster. Buckinghamshire Out-of-Hours Service is also now located in the MIIU, ensuring optimum staff cover at all times.

The unit, which is run by Bucks Urgent Care, a partner in which is Care UK, has been entirely redecorated, making it a better place for patients to visit.

Natasha Bartlett, General Manager for Care UK, said: “We’re proud of what we’re doing at Wycombe MIIU. Previously, the patient would have had to use the main x-ray facilities which are in the main hospital. This meant trekking across the road, up the stairs, round the corner to be imaged, only to have to come all the way back to the minor injuries unit for the diagnosis and onward management. In some cases, patients had to wait for porters. Now that we have this facility on site, the patient experience is so much better, as the x-ray facilities are literally next to the waiting room.

“Our patient survey questionnaires show that 95.9% of patients would recommend our services. When Healthwatch Bucks conducted patient surveys in various parts of urgent care,

including the MIIU, the feedback was very positive. Some 40% of patients were treated within the first 15 minutes of presentation. Our target of treating a patient within four hours and deciding the onward management of their case is 97% and we consistently achieve over 99%.

The Minor Injuries and Illness Unit is open every day of the year. It is for minor injuries and illness which patients cannot treat themselves or they think are unsuitable for a GP appointment. Following assessment, they may be advised to treat themselves, go to their pharmacist or see their GP if more appropriate.