#miu

2025-10-14

Llanelli’s Minor Injuries Unit to become 12‑hour Urgent Care Treatment Centre – no return to 24‑hour service

Instead, the board has agreed to establish a 12‑hour Urgent Care Treatment Centre, bringing together the existing MIU and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services into a single, integrated hub.

From 24 hours to 12

The MIU has been operating on reduced hours since November 2024, opening daily from 8am to 8pm after Healthcare Inspectorate Wales raised concerns over overnight safety and staff shortages.

In March, the board considered whether a full 24‑hour rota could be reinstated, but concluded this was not possible. Following a 12‑week consultation earlier this year, which drew hundreds of responses and strong local feeling, four long‑term options were put forward. On Thursday, members opted for the urgent care model (Option 4a).

The new centre will:

  • Open 8am–8pm, seven days a week (with staff on site for an additional two hours to close).
  • Treat a wider range of urgent but non‑life‑threatening conditions, including minor injuries, minor illnesses, and urgent medical needs that don’t require an overnight stay.
  • Provide Same Day Emergency Care currently accessed via GP referral.

📌 Prince Philip Hospital Urgent Care Centre – Key Facts

  • Opening hours: 8am–8pm daily (staff on site until 10pm to close)
  • Services: Minor injuries (sprains, cuts, burns), minor illnesses (ear/throat infections, mild allergic reactions), urgent medical needs (e.g. severe headaches, cellulitis, diabetes flare-ups)
  • What it replaces: Existing Minor Injuries Unit and Same Day Emergency Care services combined
  • Why: Staffing shortages mean a safe 24‑hour rota is not possible
  • Timeline: New centre expected within 6–12 months; six‑month evaluation once open
  • Emergency care: A&E services remain at Glangwili (Carmarthen) and Morriston (Swansea)

Board voices

Professor Phil Kloer, Chief Executive, thanked staff, campaigners and the public for their input:

“We are looking to maintain a high‑quality service that is safe, sustainable, accessible and kind, that meets the needs of the people of Llanelli for the future.”

Mark Henwood, Executive Medical Director, described the decision as a “milestone”:

“We look forward to now implementing and delivering safe, sustainable minor injury and urgent care at Prince Philip Hospital.”

Campaigners respond

Local campaign group SOSPPAN (Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network), which has long fought to protect services at the hospital, welcomed the outcome.

Chair Deryk Cundy said:

“We are pleased with the Board’s decision to support an Urgent Care Centre. We believe this new and enhanced service, combined with an effective 111 phone triage, will provide a service that is fit for now and the future.”

He added that SOSPPAN would continue to press for accessible mental health provision in Llanelli.

Why the change was needed

As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, the MIU’s overnight closure was introduced in late 2024 after inspectors raised safety concerns. The consultation confirmed that the previous 24‑hour model could not be reinstated safely or sustainably.

Dr Jon Morris, clinical lead for minor injuries, said the new model would reduce the number of patients redirected elsewhere:

“We have managed to recruit staff recently, but nowhere near enough to go back to a 24‑hour service.”

Next steps

  • The new Urgent Care Treatment Centre is expected to be delivered within 6–12 months, allowing time for recruitment and infrastructure changes.
  • The health board has committed to a six‑month evaluation once the service is up and running, looking at patient experience, outcomes, transport and staffing.
  • In the meantime, the MIU will continue to operate 8am–8pm daily.

Patients needing emergency care overnight will continue to be directed to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen or Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

The Welsh Government said it had not been consulted on the proposals in advance, but stressed that responsibility for safe and sustainable services lies with local NHS organisations.

Related coverage

Llanelli’s Minor Injury Unit faces crunch decision
Health board warned staffing shortages could prevent a return to 24‑hour cover.

Health board lays out options for Llanelli MIU
Four long‑term models put forward for consultation earlier this year.

Councillor warns against further service losses in Llanelli
Local representatives raised concerns about the impact of reduced hours.

Final days to have your say on Llanelli MIU
Hundreds of residents responded to the 12‑week consultation.

#DerykCundy #featured #HywelDdaNHS #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #Llanelli #MinorInjuriesUnit #MIU #PrincePhilipHospital #SaveOurServicesPrincePhilipActionNetwork #SOSPPANCampaign #UrgentCare #UrgentCareTreatmentCentre

Prince Philip Minor Injuries Unit

Llanelli’s Minor Injury Unit faces crunch decision as Health Board weighs future

The unit has been running on reduced hours since November 2024, closing overnight after inspectors warned of safety risks and staff shortages. Campaigners say the community has already lost too many services at Prince Philip Hospital — and fear this could be the thin end of the wedge.

A 12‑week consultation earlier this year drew more than 700 formal responses and a petition of over 10,000 signatures calling for the MIU to be protected. Public meetings were often heated, with residents warning that further downgrading would leave people in Llanelli dangerously exposed.

Deryk Cundy, Chair of the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), said:

“The MIU plays a crucial role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people in Llanelli. The strength of feeling was clear from the petition. But we also recognise the old model was unsustainable, with staff under impossible pressure. What we need now is a solution that strengthens services, not strips them away.”

The Health Board says it has listened to the community, with four official options on the table and six more suggested by consultees. But campaigners remain wary, pointing to a long history of service losses in Llanelli.

Mark Henwood, Executive Medical Director, insisted the process had been “thorough and inclusive”:

“We’ve heard a wide range of perspectives and experiences. This rich picture of what matters to people will be put forward to the Board next week.”

Decision day

The crunch meeting takes place on Thursday 25 September, when the Board will decide whether Llanelli keeps a walk‑in MIU in its current form, sees hours cut further, or moves to a new urgent‑care style model.

Until then, the unit remains open daily from 8am to 8pm. Outside those hours, patients are directed to NHS 111 or emergency services.

For many in Llanelli, the decision will be seen as a test of whether the Health Board is serious about protecting local access to urgent care — or whether another vital service is about to be lost.

Related coverage on Llanelli’s MIU

Consultation ends as decision looms over future services

Councillor warns against further service losses in Llanelli

Campaigners take petition to Senedd over downgrading fears

Final days to have your say on MIU consultation

Health Board lays out options for Llanelli MIU

Board agrees temporary overnight closure of MIU

MIU could close overnight due to staff shortages

#HywelDdaNHS #Llanelli #MinorInjuriesUnit #MIU #MIUConsultation #MIUOptions #PrincePhilipHospital

Prince Philip Minor Injuries Unit
:rss: ORICON NEWS トップoricon_news@rss-mstdn.studiofreesia.com
2025-09-03

ME:I・MIU、北海道でバク食い報告 直後にストイックに追い込む「2時間半ぐらい鬼のように運動した」
oricon.co.jp/news/2404772/full

#oricon_news #ME_I #MIU #ガールズグループ #音楽 #新譜 #ニュース #画像 #写真

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