Cromer Minor Injuries Unit open over Christmas

Cromer and District Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit will be open for business every day from 8am to 8pm over the festive period.

The North Norfolk hospital, which does not take emergency in-patients, is due for its annual Christmas shutdown. The elective surgery programme declines dramatically over the festive period as patients are reluctant to spend time in hospital until after New Year.

As a result in-patient services and the majority of departments, including Phlebotomy, at Cromer Hospital will close on Friday 22nd December and reopen on Tuesday 2nd January.

The shutdown allows the hospital's two operating theatres to get a thorough clinical clean and gives hospital staff the opportunity to take any time owing off over the Christmas period. On call x-ray facilities will be provided over the Christmas period and the renal unit will be open as normal except it will also be open 0700 -2230 on Christmas Eve and New's Year Eve but closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Dermatology out-patients clinic will be open on Wednesday 27th December and Friday 29th December between 0800-1300.

The North Norfolk Minor Injuries Unit is open 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm. Cromer's Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) is run by emergency nurse practitioners, who are experienced nurses who can independently see and treat all forms of minor injury. The department sees more than 9,500 patients a year.

What the MIU can deal with

  • Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness)
  • Simple wounds
  • Simple eye conditions, foreign body, corneal abrasions
  • Minor burns
  • Soft tissue injury
  • Bites and stings, with no associated complications, or acute reaction
  • Simple fractures
  • Broken or dislocated fingers

What the MIU cannot deal with

  • Children under the age of two
  • Pregnancy problems
  • Complicated or serious injury
  • Fractures that may need manipulation (other than fingers)
  • Head injury where there has been loss of consciousness
  • Alcohol-related head injuries or illnesses
  • Medical conditions in their acute form, asthma, diabetes, allergic reaction
  • *Major illness i.e. Stroke, Heart attack

*These patients should attend the Accident and Emergency department at NNUH. In an emergency, call 999 for an ambulance.

Thursday 7th of December 2006 01:00:30 PM