At last week’s Health Overview and Scrutiny, your Focus Team once again raised local people’s concerns about the Yate Minor Injury Unit (MIU).

We are still hearing reports of patients being turned way at busy times. Yate councillor Sue Walker gave the example of a resident in their seventies with a dog bite who was turned away three times in one day. The MIU needs the resources to increase capacity and opening hours, rather than managing demand by turning injured people away.

Claire Young asked about the NHS emergency plans.  After a recent fire at the BRI, patients were advised that there would be extended opening at the MIU.  Local people told us that a number of patients had been turned away by a sign saying the MIU was full during these extended hours. The Area Director for the Clinical Commission Group said that the NHS business continuity plans had been tested during this incident and he would be happy to report back to the next meeting on their plans for coping with such incidents locally. Following the meeting, the organisation that runs the unit said that staff had worked extra hours for two weekends to provide cover.

With the continued confusion over what the MIU can treat, we repeated our call for a walk-in surgery, which can handle both minor injuries and ailments. We are pleased to see that the MIU is now offering a handout setting out what they can’t treat there and the alternatives.

Your Focus Team know from local people’s comments and our own experiences that the staff provide an excellent service when you can be seen. We want to see a better funded unit that can handle all people’s walk-in needs in our fast growing area.