Stroud Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIIU) remains open while refurbishment work at the hospital continues but anyone wanting to be seen still needs to book an appointment.
Building work to refit Jubilee Ward and the MIIU have been ongoing since August last year. Beds have been re-provided at Cirencester Hospital, while the Minor Injuries team have been seeing patients with booked appointments from the Children Services building.
There are, however, still a number of MIIU patients – up to 25 each week – who turn up to the main hospital reception without an appointment.
As there are no Minor injury trained staff within the main hospital, they are not able to assess and treat people. As a result, walk-in patients have to be directed to the telephone triage line (0300 421 7777) which can be difficult for reception staff and frustrating for patients.
Stroud Hospital Matron Liz Lovett said: “We understand that needing a booked appointment for the MIIU is a change, and it has taken some time for people to get used to.
“We’ve advertised the refurbishment as far as we can to make people aware of these arrangements, and of course we don’t want to stop people from attending the unit.
“However, the building work means we don’t have access to waiting areas – so booking is much better for patients as it means they can be seen at an agreed time. It also allows my MIIU colleagues to plan their workload more efficiently.”
Work on the hospital has been delayed due to availability of raw materials as well as the impact of Covid on the sub-contractors carrying out the work. However, work is now progressing, and completion dates are expected to be confirmed soon.
Senior Emergency Nurse Practitioner Alison Durberley added: “When people have travelled or paid to get here by taxi, we know they can get frustrated or worried. That can be avoided, just by picking up the phone and making a call first.
“We’re looking forward to getting back into the hospital and operating normally again, but in the meantime, we’re asking for a little bit of help from people so we can offer the best service possible.”
If you have a minor injury or illness and would like to be seen at Stroud Minor Injuries and Illness Unit, please remember to book first by calling the telephone triage line on: 0300 421 7777.
