News

Bromsgrove Minor Injury Unit (MIU) is set to undergo a major transformation to increase capacity and improve patient care.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which operates the service at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove, has announced plans to redesign and construct a new minor injury unit. The new facilities are expected to reduce waiting times and improve patient experience.

Despite seeing an average of 320 patients each week, the existing layout limits the number of patients that can be treated at any one time to just three. 

Responding to growing demand for the service, the Trust has committed £1.6 million to the construction of a new, larger minor injury unit adjacent to the existing facility on the hospital’s ground floor.

Alongside five new treatment rooms, the redesign will see the creation of a dedicated resus bay, specialist facilities for the treatment of eye injuries and a plaster room - offering timely assessment and treatment for a broad range of minor injuries. 

The new unit will also be conveniently located next to the existing X-ray department, further streamlining the patient journey and enhancing diagnostic efficiency.

Denise Lewis, Director of Finance at the Trust said, “This investment is expected to increase the MIU’s capacity and deliver a more comfortable, seamless experience for our patients.

“By expanding the number of treatment rooms and upgrading our facilities, we are ensuring Bromsgrove MIU remains equipped to meet the changing needs of our community.” 

Dawn Shaw, Lead for Countywide MIUs, added, “The new unit will provide our team of skilled emergency nurse practitioners with the resources needed to treat a wide range of minor injuries. This includes burns, breaks, sprains, strains, and minor eye injuries.

“Those with minor injuries can walk-in to any of Worcestershire’s minor injury units without needing an appointment. For anyone unsure whether an MIU is the right choice, NHS 111 offers guidance and advice helping to direct you to the right service”.

This announcement follows the expansion of weekend opening hours, originally piloted during the pandemic in response to growing demand for the service.

The MIU operates 8am – 8pm seven days a week, staffed by experienced emergency nurse practitioners who offer advice and treatment for a range of minor injuries. 

Work is set to begin this week, with the new unit scheduled to open in the early summer. The existing unit will remain operational throughout the build, minimising disruption to patients.

For further information or updates on the project, visit www.hacw.nhs.uk/MIU.