Drop-in events to learn about Llanelli’s Minor Injury Unit service

Members of the local community are invited to attend drop-in events to learn about the ongoing engagement process regarding the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital.

The events will provide an opportunity to hear about the potential options being considered for the MIU service. Attendees can drop in at any time to speak with Hywel Dda Health Board staff, including clinicians, and receive updates on what has been happening with the engagement process and the next steps.

Drop-In Event Details:

1. Llandybie Memorial Hall
   Conference Room, Woodfield Road, Llandybie, Ammanford SA18 3UR
   Thursday 6 March 2025, between 3.00pm – 6.00pm

2.  Antioch Centre
   Copperworks Road, Llanelli SA15 2NE
   Monday 17 March 2025, between 3.00pm – 6.00pm

These sessions are open to everyone and provide an opportunity to ask questions and stay informed about the next steps in the  option development process.

Community members  who are unable to attend the drop-in events, can contribute their views here . Town, County and Local Community Councillors will also be invited to an online session to keep up to date with the progress.

Background and Next Steps:

An ongoing engagement process started in early February to explore a sustainable long-term solution.  A diverse group of stakeholders are working together to review and score several potential options. The group involved in this process includes community representatives, healthcare staff, campaign groups and partner organisations – their shortlisted options will be presented to the Board on 27 March.

The Board will not be deciding which option to take forward during its meeting in March, any final decision will be taken after a series of wider engagements. These will seek the wider communities’ views on the proposed options, as well as give the opportunity to put forward other ideas which they feel that the Board should consider.

The Minor Injury Unit provides care to adults and children over 12-months old with minor injuries such as minor wounds, minor burns or scalds, minor limb injuries, bites and stings, foreign bodies in the ear or nose, and minor eye injuries.

The temporary change to Prince Philip Hospital’s Minor Injury Unit (MIU) opening hours was introduced on 1 November 2024, changing the hours to 8:00am – 8:00pm daily. These changes were made to address safety concerns due to a shortage of GPs. and concerns raised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.

Minor Injury Unit Clinical Lead, Jon Morris said: “To ensure the safety and confidence of people attending the minor injury unit, we need to able to provide a fit for purpose service during all opening hours.

“The inability to consistently cover the rota, with suitably qualified doctors, particularly during the evenings and overnight, carries risk to our patients and our staff.”

Discussions in the engagement sessions have focussed on the options, recruitment, and safety, as well as concerns about access to care for individuals without a car.

The hospital’s Acute Medical Assessment Unit, which provides emergency care for very sick medical patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke or heart attack, has been unaffected by the change and remains a 24/7 service at Prince Philip Hospital. Patients are brought into this unit directly by the ambulance service, or are referred by their GP, or by the Out-of-Hours service.

The local Out-of-Hours service continues to operate from the Llanelli Hospital and is accessed by calling NHS 111 Wales when your GP surgery is not open (between 6.30pm and 8.00am Monday to Friday, weekends and Bank Holidays). Patients are only seen through arrangement with NHS 111 Wales as this is not a ‘walk-in’ service.

Advice for people in accessing the care they need:

• If you need help with a minor injury between the hours of 8.00am and 8.00pm, people can continue to self-present (walk-in) to the Minor Injury Unit, at Prince Philip Hospital. For further information on how the MIUs can help you – please visit our Minor injuries units webpage.
• If you have a minor injury outside of these hours, which cannot wait until the next day, or, if you are unwell and unsure what help you might need, please visit the NHS Wales symptom checker on the website; or call NHS 111 Wales
• If you need mental health advice that is urgent and not an emergency, call 111 (press Option 2) and you will get the best advice and support needed for you
• You can access your GP, community pharmacy, optometrist (optician) or dentist in the usual way. Out-of-hours, you can contact the  Out-of-Hours service by calling NHS 111 Wales
• In a life-threatening emergency, call 999