MINEHEAD’S Community Hospital has been helping take the strain as Somerset’s health services experienced some of their highest ever levels of demand over the Christmas and New Year period.

And as the NHS winter crisis continues, the county’s health chiefs are encouraging people to carry on making best use of the community hospital’s Minor Injury Unit (MIU), and not add to pressure by going to Accident and Emergency with only minor illnesses or ailments.

Minehead MIU is one of only seven in the county, and last year treated just under 13,000 patients for everything from aches and pains to broken bones and minor illnesses.

Across the county, the seven units saw more than 100,000 patients last year – a large number of them able to be successfully treated without having to visit A&E.

The unit in Minehead has six treatment rooms, a resuscitation room, a plastering room and also offers X-rays Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

The team works together to see patients as quickly as they can.

“We have a very varied age group of patients,” said Hannah Coleman, lead emergency nurse practitioner for the unit.

“We have the oldest demographic in the country, so we see a lot of broken bones and skin flap lacerations – we’re very good at treating those.

“But we also see a lot of children with ear infections and throat infections.

“At the moment I would say it’s 50 per cent minor injuries and 50 per cent illness. We’re seeing lots of flu and colds, but in the summer it’s definitely more injuries than illness.”

Staff rotate around the four units, giving them a chance to share knowledge and continuously enhance their skills.

Emergency nurse practitioners run the minor injury units, supported by staff nurses and health care assistants.

They are qualified in advanced emergency and urgent care and are able to manage a range of conditions from stitching cuts and treating minor broken bones, burns and injuries, to stabilising more critical conditions before patients can be transferred to Musgrove Park Hospital.

They can request and interpret X-rays and are qualified to prescribe medication when needed.

“I do think sometimes people are unsure as to what we do here,” said Hannah.

“But it isn’t just minor injuries and broken bones. We also see a lot of patients with asthma, ear infections and even dental pain.

“If people are unsure, they should telephone NHS 111 who will advise them where to go.

“We are able to see and treat around 96 per cent of patients who come to us, so they don’t need to be referred anywhere else – we’re very proud of that.”

No appointments are required and the average waiting time is 30 minutes to an hour.