New service offers quicker treatment for minor injuries in Forth Valley

Anyone with a minor injury should call MIA – the Minor Injuries Assessment service – on 01324 566130 before they attend the Minor Injuries Unit in Stirling or A&E at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Patients will be offered a video assessment so they can quickly access clinical advice or an appointment in Stirling or Larbert so they don’t have to wait to be seen when they attend.

The service runs from 9am to 9.30pm seven days a week and is open to all adults and children over the age of one.

Offering video assessments means patients can be seen at a convenient time from the comfort of their home.

The Call MIA service can be used to provide advice and treatment for a wide range of conditions including minor burns and scalds, infected wounds, sprains and strains, cuts and grazes.

However, people with serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries should continue to attend A&E in Larbert or call 999.

Donna Clark, NHS Forth Valley’s operational manager for minor injuries, said: ““We are very excited about this new service and how it will change the way we work to give the best care possible.

"Many patients with minor injuries don’t actually need to be seen face-to-face if they have access to clinical advice from an experienced healthcare professional.

"This service will help us provide this advice quickly and ensure those patients who do need to be seen are given an appointment so they don’t need to wait when they attend.”

Juliette Murray, deputy medical director for acute services, added: “Because this is a dedicated service for people with minor injuries it can fast track them and ensure they are

seen quickly by the right healthcare professional without the need to join a queue and wait in a busy waiting area while others who arrived before them are treated first.

"This new service will help us see patients quickly and efficiently at the right time and in the right place.”