Decision on MIU looms

HEATH bosses will decide the future of the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli today following a public consultation.

- IAN LEWIS

The MIU has been operating under temporary opening hours of 8am to 8pm daily since last November, due to staffing challenges and to ensure patient and staff safety.

The 12-week consultation, which ran until July 22, wanted people's views on four potential long-term options for the service, as well as any alternative suggestions from the community. They are:

■ Option 1 - Doctor-led 12 hours/8am-8pm (current temporary model);

■ Option 2 - Doctor-led 14 hours/7am-9pm;

■ Option 3 - Doctor-led phased opening. This would initially see the unit open to the public for the current 12 hours of 8am-8pm. As staffing allows, this would move to 14 hours between 7am and 9pm, ultimately back up to 24 hours;

■ Option 4 - Urgent care centre (same-day urgent care type model), 14 hours/7am-9pm.

All options less than 24 hours will also include an additional two hours of staffing to treat people who attend the unit towards the end of opening hours.

Hywel Dda University Health Board members will discuss feedback from the consultation at today’s board meeting, when a decision is expected on how the unit will be run.