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Options update for Llanelli's Minor Injury Unit

6 March 2025

On 3 March Hywel Dda University Health Board concluded a series of engagement workshops, with involvement from staff, community members and stakeholders, to explore a long-term way of providing care at the Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital.

The stakeholder group included nurses, clinicians, the ambulance service, out-of-hours GPs, campaign group representatives, and people in our community who expressed and interest (representatives from amongst this list chosen at random). The workshops agreed the minimum criteria that options would need to meet, and weighted them for scoring. Weighting is placing importance on the issues that matter most.

Those taking part agreed that the options needed to be;

  • safe
  • help reduce waiting times
  • deliver on wider hospital standards
  • sustainable (both economically and for the workforce)
  • fair and equitable
  • focussed on patients

During the session people were encouraged to ask questions about the process and the options.

The group scored four shortlisted options, which were:

  • 12-hour doctor led unit – as per the temporary model in place now, this would be open to the public for 12 hours, with a further two hours staffing to allow patients in the unit to be treated
  • 16-hour doctor led unit – this would be open to the public for 14 hours, with a further two hours staffing to allow patients in the unit to be treated
  • phased option from 12-hours up to 24-hours – this would initially be open to the public for the current 12 hours, plus two hours staffing, moving to 16 hours, inclusive of two hours staffing, and ultimately 24 hours overall
  • 16-hour urgent care treatment centre (Same Day Urgent Care type model) - this would be open to the public for 14 hours with a further two hours to allow patients in the unit to be treated

Please note:

We recognise there is inconsistency in the way options are described above. Some are titled according to the opening hours to the public, and others are titled according to how long the staffing remains in place to care for people who attend towards the end of public opening hours. We have continued to use these titles currently as this is how the options were described in the options development process to date. However, should the Board decide to move to public consultation on these options, we have recommended retitling options, so they are consistent and are reflective of the opening hours to the public.

The scores for these shortlisted options and the process so far will now be submitted to the Board for consideration and to decide next steps. As part of this process, the Board will determine:

  • Whether the previous 24/7 model can be reinstated
  • If not, whether the process should move to a formal public consultation

The Health Board will continue to provide updates and, should the board recommend consultation, we will invite the wider community to take part in the process. At that stage members of the public and staff will learn more about the options, be able to propose additional options, as well as give their views on the suggested options.

Further updates will be provided on next steps, following outcomes from Public Board on 27 March. We will continue to involve and engage with our communities.