What can be treated by Minor Injury Services?

Please see information on how to use health services appropriately on the NIdirect website: How-use-your-health-services

Minor Injury Services can treat adults with:

Possible broken bones from the shoulder to the hands and from the knees to the toes
All sprains and strains
Minor facial injuries such as bruising or broken noses
Wounds, bites, cuts, grazes and scalp lacerations
Minor scalds and burns
Small abscesses and boils
Foreign bodies and splinters in skin
Foreign bodies in eyes/ ears/ nose
Minor head injuries (fully conscious patients who did no experience loss of consciousness and have no headache, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion and are not taking blood thinning medication).

Minor Injury Services will NOT treat adults with:

Conditions due to medical illness, e.g. fevers, seizures or headaches
Chest pain
Breathing problems
Abdominal pain
Gynaecological problems
Pregnancy related conditions
Allergic condition causing weakness, facial swelling, breathing difficulties (Call 999).

Minor Injury Services can treat children aged 5 and over with:

Possible broken bones
All sprains and strains
Minor scalds and burns
Minor facial injuries
Wounds, bites, cuts and scalp lacerations
Foreign bodies and splinters in skin
Foreign bodies in eyes/ears/nose
Minor head injuries (fully conscious patients who did not experience loss of consciousness and have no headache, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion).

 

Minor Injury Services will NOT treat children aged 5 years and over with:

Child of any age wit medical illness, e.g. fever, seizures, respiratory problems
Any child young than 5 years
Non-traumatic limp or non-use of a limb
Injuries following a fall from a height or motor vehicle collision
Significant head of facial injuries with loss of consciousness, drowsiness or vomiting
Abdominal pain
Gynaecological conditions
Injuries die to self-harm
Neck or back pain.

Patients with suitable conditions can self select at the Emeregency Department D reception to be seen by minor injuries services at Causeway Hospital or Antrim Area Hospital, available every day between 9am and 9pm. They do not have to wait to be seen by staff in ED who are treating those with more serious ailments.

There is also a Minor Injuries Unit at Mid Ulster Hospital, open weekdays from 9am-5pm excluding public holidays. If you are unsure whether your health problem can be treated at Mid Ulster Hospital, please contact the staff for advice on 028 7936 6720. If you condition is urgent or life threatening please always go to Causeway or Antrim Hospital ED.

 

 

 

1st August 2019