Vale of Leven Hospital will see you treated quickly for minor injuries

Health chiefs are highlighting the benefits of attending the nurse-led minor injuries unit (MIU) at the Vale where patients will be treated and discharged quicker than at an A&E department.

MIUs can treat cuts and grazes, insect bites, minor burns, sprains and strains, limb injuries like a broken ankle, broken wrist etc and foreign bodies in ears or up noses.

However, they can’t treat more serious conditions such as major injuries, poisoning, fever, breathing difficulties stomach pains, vomiting or diarrhoea, rashes or allergic reactions.

Scott Davidson, acute medical director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “This is the beginning of winter and patients should really consider carefully the best place to attend if they are unwell.

"Those with serious or life-threatening illness and injuries will always be given priority.

"Attending our MIUs for a minor condition allows our emergency departments to treat those patients with more serious conditions.”

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The board says by visiting a nurse-led MIU, patients with neck strain/sprains can save around 1 hour and 13 minutes.

The time saved for cut fingers is around 35 minutes while patients with broken wrists can save around 48 minutes.

Other MIUs are located at Stobhill and the New Victoria hospitals.

There are four adult emergency departments within Greater Glasgow and Clyde – at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock.

All adult emergency departments departments also have facilities to treat minor injuries but patients will always be seen quicker at the stand-alone MIUs.

An MIU is also the right place to take a child with a minor injury – but only those over five years old.

Children under one should always be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.