Get involved and help decide the options for the MIU at Prince Philip Hospital
24 January 2025
Hywel Dda University Health Board is inviting people from the wider Llanelli community to shape potential options for the future of the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Prince Philip Hospital.
A temporary change to the opening hours of the unit, from 24/7 to 8am-8pm daily, was put in place on 1 November 2024 for a period of six months. This was to protect patient and staff safety due to not having the appropriate Minor Injury Unit GPs in place during evenings and overnight.
The health board is in the process of developing a list of potential options for a sustainable model, one of which is returning the service to how it was before the temporary change was made. The health board wants to ensure local people are involved in this process, along with clinical staff and stakeholders.
People from across the community can express an interest to join a small stakeholder group which will need to meet on five occasions between early February and early March 2025.
The group will provide feedback on an initial list of options and be involved in scoring and shortlisting options to go to the Public Board at the end of March.
Alongside representation from the wider community, SOSPPAN have also been invited to be part of the options development group.
To be involved, people need to commit to attending all sessions, which will be held on:
Thursday 6 February, Monday 10 February, Monday 17 February, Monday 24 February, and Monday 3 March.
The sessions, will include both online and in-person workshops in Llanelli.
Speaking about the events, Mark Henwood, Interim Medical Director for Hywel Dda, said:
“Listening to the people who use our services is vital to ensuring we make the right decisions for our communities.”
“By bringing together people to help evaluate the options for the future model for the Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital, we can better meet the needs of the people we serve.”
“This process will be a collaborative effort, and we encourage those interested in helping us to shape options to step forward and express their interest in being part of the process.”
The Minor Injury Unit provides care to adults and children over 12-months old with minor injuries such as minor wounds, minor burns or scalds, minor limb injuries, bites and stings, foreign bodies in the ear or nose, and minor eye injuries.
The hospital’s Acute Medical Assessment Unit, which provides emergency care for very sick medical patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke or heart attack, remains a 24/7 service at Prince Philip Hospital and is not part of this temporary change.
Patients are brought into this unit directly by the ambulance service, or are referred by their GP, or by the Out-of-Hours service.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in being part of this process, please complete the Expression of Interest form - https://forms.office.com/e/RMCAH3W7bg (opens in new tab)
- by 30 January 2025.
Please note that spaces are limited, and submitting a form does not guarantee a place. For those who are unable to join the group, you can contribute your views here Minor Injury Unit - Prince Philip Hospital | Have your Say Hywel Dda UHB (opens in new tab)
If the health board needs to consider changes to the service model as it was prior to this temporary change, there would be an engagement or consultation with the local community and more chances for people to share their views.