By Richard SmithA NEW overnight facility for people with minor injuries is opening today at the Bartlet Hospital, Felixstowe, as part of a shake-up of health care in the town.
By Richard Smith
A NEW overnight facility for people with minor injuries is opening today at the Bartlet Hospital, Felixstowe, as part of a shake-up of health care in the town.
The minor injuries unit will be open for patients needing treatment for minor injuries or illness after 8.30pm and before 7am, seven days a week.
Patients who need treatment from 7am to 8.30pm will need to use the existing facilities at Felixstowe General Hospital.
Tony Robinson, Suffolk Coastal Primary Care Trust chairman, said "I am delighted that people in the Felixstowe area now have a brand new overnight walk-in facility for when they suffer bumps, cuts and other problems that can't wait until morning and they'll receive the same excellent level of care that is provided at the main unit at the General.
"This is all part of putting in place the changes to the two community hospitals in Felixstowe following the Fresher Future consultation earlier this year.
"Now that all inpatient facilities are concentrated on one site at the Bartlet, to improve the patient environment and staffing levels, we need to move the minor injuries unit out of the General at night time because of staff security and cost effectiveness."
The overnight minor injuries unit reuses a wing of the Bartlet Hospital following some internal changes and has its own outside door.
"Many Felixstowe people will often find that the town's minor injuries unit is a better option than travelling up to Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department because not only is it closer, but also they will experience much shorter waits," said Mr Robinson.
The problems that can be dealt with in the unit include: cuts, grazes and lacerations; fainting; moderate asthma; mild abdominal pain; gastric upsets; simple burns and scalds; nose bleeds; allergic reactions; fever; low blood sugar; minor head injuries; renal colic; venous haemorrhage; febrile convulsion; falls that do not need an x-ray; and sprains.
richard.smith@eadt.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here