Latest news with #MIUs
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
New Kerry medical facility sparks town tension – ‘Killarney makes no sense'
Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Daly tabled a motion at a recent Tralee MD meeting when he asked the council to meet with management at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) to discuss plans for the proposed MIU in the town. Such a facility would cater for the rising population in Tralee and help ease pressure at UHK's Accident & Emergency Unit where patients are waiting unreasonable amounts of time for treatment. According to the HSE website, MIUs treat non-life-threatening cases that are unlikely to require admission to hospital. They are designed to help many of the injuries that people go to the emergency department with – such as broken bones, dislocations, and minor burns. Usually, MIU's will offer treatment such as x-rays, plaster casts, and wound care. Cllr Daly demanded an update on the matter saying reports of the MIU going to Killarney is unacceptable given the larger population in Tralee and its environs. 'This is a huge issue for the town. I've heard reports that this, possibly, is going to be located in Killarney rather than in Tralee,' he said. 'I don't know how this can happen when the facts and figures show that 70 per cent of the people using A&E are living in and around the Tralee area, North Kerry, and West Kerry. It makes no sense to bring it to Killarney,' Cllr Daly said. He explained that if a new MIU were based in Killarney, it would only result in doubling the journey for patients in cases where they require ongoing hospital treatment. 'They would only be coming back to Tralee again if their minor injuries are considered serious enough that they must use A&E. Where and when was this decision made? What can be done about it?' Cllr Daly asked. Tralee MD management said this is a matter for consideration by the elected members. Cllr Daly's motion was seconded by Cllr Deirdre Ferris.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Call to reinstate minor injury units in two Herefordshire towns
A campaign has begun to reopen minor injury units (MIUs) at two community hospitals amid A&E pressures at a main Liberal Democrats protested in 2018 against MIU closure at the town's Community Hospital, with Leominster's MIU shutting at about the same time - with both moves initially a temporary Dem Ed O'Driscoll is now asking councillors - including those on Herefordshire Council - to back the call to bring back the units. Wye Valley Trust, which runs the sites, said it was "aware of the motion". In January, fewer that two in three, 64%, of A&E patients at Hereford County Hospital were seen within four hours, according to NHS November and February, a quarter of ambulances waited more than an hour to hand over patients to the department.O'Driscoll's motion said that previously, Herefordshire's market town community hospitals offered "accessible and efficient urgent care to local residents, while reducing strain on the County Hospital".There was still "huge affection" for the local service in Ross, as well as "support from senior medical staff" for his proposal to restart it, he added. 'No-brainer' Ledbury Community Health Centre continues to provide an MIU service, and Bromyard Community Hospital never had such Dem group leader in Ross-on-Wye Terry James said reopening the closed MIUs was "a no-brainer", adding: "I hope that all political parties on Herefordshire Council will join us in calling on the NHS to sort this out."Jenny Bartlett, Green councillor for Leominster East in which the town's Community Hospital lies, said she was "pleased to see that there is now a motion". An official inspection last year found demand for treatment from both walk-ins and ambulances at County Hospital was "huge and increasing", she added. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
