NHS Tayside

Changes to Montrose and Brechin MIIU Services

FRIDAY, 13 APRIL, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Changes to Montrose and Brechin Minor Injury and Illness Services

Montrose and Brechin Minor Injury and Illness (MIIU) Services are changing their hours at the weekend and on public holidays.

Gail Smith, Head of Community Health & Care Services for Angus Health and Social Care Partnership said, “It is essential that we provide an MIIU service with appropriately skilled staff which is safe for patients and staff.

“Although we have been actively recruiting nurses, we have been unable to replace staff with the required level of experience and expertise to run this specialist service. It takes a minimum of five years for a registered nurse to acquire the additional essential education, training and clinical skills to practice safely in the minor injury and illness environment.

“As a result of these considerable staffing challenges, we have had to make the decision to change the opening times of the units in Montrose and Brechin to ensure we continue to deliver safe and effective minor injury and illness services in Angus.”

The new opening hours below will be in place from the following dates:

From Monday, 16 April:

• Montrose MIIU will be open seven days a week, including public holidays, between 9am and 4.30pm.

From Monday 4 June:

• Montrose and Brechin MIIUs will be open between 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday only and will be closed at the weekends and on public holidays.

During weekends and public holidays people requiring MIIU services outwith the opening times in Montrose and Brechin can attend the MIIUs in Forfar and Arbroath or call NHS 24 on 111 and be redirected to the most appropriate care setting. Local pharmacies can also provide a range of services, including free advice, support and guidance on health problems.

The change in opening hours follows a recent review of the current MIIU services in Angus, which was undertaken by Angus Health and Social Care Partnership with a range of stakeholders from local communities.

Ms Smith added, “The review considered a variety of factors including patient safety, numbers of attendances, reason for attendance, local demographics, main road access and public transport routes and access to onsite diagnostic facilities including x-ray.

“Information from the review shows that for the Montrose and Brechin MIIUs, the most prevalent reason for attendance is for needle exchange and wound dressing change, neither of which are issues which require to be dealt with in an MIIU setting.

“The review also looked at the number of attendances and average number of people attending per hour at weekends and public holidays in Brechin and Montrose MIIUs in December. The information showed that 100 patients attended Brechin, giving an average of one person per hour. Montrose had 180 attendances over these days, giving an average of 1.6 people per hour. Clearly, this is not sustainable.

“We would like to reassure the public that Angus Health and Social Care Partnership is continuing to develop Care and Treatment Services in all four localities of Angus, in partnership with GP practices, whilst taking account of the new GP contract and using facilities already in place.

“The new services will provide a range of health and wellbeing services for the local population including minor injuries, primary care services such as undertaking ECG, complex wound care and blood tests, as well as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, voluntary support and spiritual care.”

Advice on accessing Angus Minor Injury and Illness Units:

Members of the public are advised that if you have a minor injury that is not serious, for example a sprain, strain, minor burn, scald, chemical splash, insect and animal bite or minor eye injury, you should attend the Minor Illness and Injury Unit during the times listed below. No appointment is necessary during routine opening hours.

For anything else you are advised to call your GP between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Outwith these hours and during public holidays, people are advised to call NHS 24 on 111.

Local pharmacists can also provide a whole range of services including free advice, support and guidance on all your health problems.

Angus Minor Injury and Illness Units opening hours:

Montrose Minor Injury and Illness Unit, Links Health Centre, Frank Wood Way,

Montrose DD10 8TY

Opening hours from Monday, 16 April:

Monday to Sunday (including public holidays): 9am – 4.30pm

Opening hours from Monday 4 June:

Monday to Friday: 9am – 4.30pm

Weekends: CLOSED

Public Holidays: CLOSED

Arbroath Minor Injury and Illness Unit, Arbroath Infirmary, Rosemount Rd, Arbroath DD11 2AT

Opening hours: