Minor injuries unit at Totnes Community Hospital moving to ‘appointment-priority’ service

Totnes Community Hospital

Published: 1 November 2023

The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Totnes Community Hospital will move to an ‘appointment-priority’ service from Monday 6 November.

Bookings will only be taken for the same day. To book an appointment, people need to call 01803 862622 and select option 1.

The unit will still be able to support walk-in visitors, but appointments will be prioritised. If the service is at capacity, the walk-in may be redirected or called back at an alternative time.

This unit will continue to be a nurse / paramedic-led unit open from 8am to 5pm, 7 days a week. Moving to this approach will provide more consistency and support maintaining the operating hours.

What conditions can an MIU help with?

  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Limb injuries (shoulder to finger, knee to toe)
  • Low risk head injuries (note: patients on anti-coagulants must be referred to the emergency department)
  • Soft tissue infections
  • Wounds including bites, lacerations, abrasions, bites and stings and wounds requiring sutures or glue
  • Wound infections not requiring second line antibiotics
  • Foreign bodies in eyes and ears
  • Some ophthalmic issues such as conjunctivitis
  • Minor illnesses such as tonsillitis, ear infections and female UTIs

Investigations and testing

The unit has limited access to investigations, we can complete a basic urinalysis. It provides basic observations through x-ray and ECG tests (note: cardiac chest pain shouldn’t be referred to an MIU / UTC or anyone requiring an ECG as these have to be interpreted by a doctor). No blood testing is carried out.

We can’t x-ray:

  • hips and femurs
  • skulls and facial bones
  • spines – cervical thoracic or lumber
  • sternum
  • chest and ribs
  • We don’t perform CT, MRI or ultrasound scans

What can’t an MIU help with?

Injuries

  • Brain or spinal cord injuries
  • Chronic pain
  • Head injury requiring imaging x-ray / MRI
  • High energy head injuries
  • Injuries older than two weeks is outside our scope for x-ray and will need outpatient referral for x-ray
  • Injuries to the tongue and teeth
  • Non-traumatic pains that GP feel requires imaging
  • Open fractures

Illnesses

  • Abdominal pains and chest pains
  • Children under two years old
  • Dental problems
  • Diarrhea / vomiting / constipation
  • Drug / alcohol and social issues
  • Loss of consciousness or focal or neurological deficits
  • Limping child with a fever
  • Male or female catheterization
  • Male UTIs
  • Persistent headaches
  • Pregnancy related issues
  • Seizures
  • Sepsis
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Sudden severe shortness of breath

Other exclusions

  • Chronic disease management
  • Repeat prescriptions
  • Safeguarding concerns (e.g. possible non-accidental injury or a vulnerable person is affected)
  • Stab wounds
  • Minor surgery such as abscesses or cysts
  • Redressing of chronic wounds