Minor injuries
If you have an injury that is not life-threatening, you can go to a Minor Injury Unit (MIU) or nurse-led walk in service for help, instead of an emergency department.
By doing so, emergency departments can concentrate on those with the most serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
We have a nurse-led walk-in service at Tenby Hospital as well as minor injury units at all our main hospitals in Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, and Llanelli.
When to attend a minor injury unit:
Minor injury units can treat* anyone over 12-months of age a with minor injury such as:
- Broken bones (fractures)
- Dislocations, sprains and strains
- Wounds and minor burns
- Insect stings
- Rib injuries (if there is no coughing up blood or chest infection)
- Insect, animal and human bites
- Foreign bodies to eyes, ears and nose
- Head or face injuries (if there is no loss or change in level of consciousness)
- Non-penetrating eye and ear injuries
- Minor neck injuries
- Minor back injuries
* We advise phoning the minor injury unit to see if they can deal with your injury/illness before visiting.
Minor illness or injury care for children under 12 months old
Children under 12-months of age with a minor injury or illness will need to be seen at an emergency department (opens in new tab).
If their illnesses or injury is not urgent, please:
- use the NHS Wales - symptom checker (opens in new tab)
- make an appointment with your GP
- or call NHS 111 Wales if you are unsure where to go.
Please call 999 if you, or someone with you, is experiencing a life-threatening emergency or has experienced a major trauma.
Help us help you
By selecting the right service for your illness or injury, you're not only looking after your health but using your NHS services responsibly. This then helps our staff treat and care for you appropriately.
If your injury or illness could be dealt with by another health care service locally you will be provided with information on how to access the service(s) you require.
For more information on alternative services available in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, visit our Help us help you webpage here (opens in new tab).
Please note the following changes to our opening hours over the festive season for Cardigan Integrated Care Centre’s Same Day Urgent Care (SDUC) service and Tenby Hospital’s nurse led walk-in service.
