"This is a fabulous service"

I stupidly sliced my fingers on a mandolin while chopping veg late June 24. I managed to stop the bleeding but the cut reopened this morning when I was washing my hair. I chose to drive to the Mid Ulster Hospital because it has a dedicated minor injuries unit.

I live 5 minutes away from an other hospital but didn't consider attending there as the waiting times for minor injuries is hours. I got to the Mid Ulster just before my appointment time of 11 am and was seen promptly by a nurse practitioner who assessed my cut and then told the nurse what dressing to use. I thought I might have needed it glued together but 2 steri strips and a dressing over my finger stopped the bleeding and held the cut cut closed. I was given a wound advice sheet and a couple of dressings to ensure I could keep it clean.

I was out sitting in my car in about 15 minutes. This is a fabulous service for minor injuries. In my experience, the A and E waiting times for the other hospital was 514 minutes!

For such a simple dressing (which still required a hospital attendance because the treatment room at my GP surgery was unable to help me) I would have clogged up an already over run A and E had I attended there. 

When I was leaving, I met my friend who had broken her toe coming through the door. Her closest A and E is also that other hospital I mentioned but she chose to attend Mid Ulster minor injuries unit also.

I will be telling my family and friends about this service because it is vital in order to bring A and E waiting times down.

I think this service requires more promotion and I implore the Northern Health and Social care Trust to take the time and promote this service.