Longford Westmeath Hospital Minor Injury Unit extended hours

The Longford Westmeath Regional Hospital in Mullingar have announcing the extended opening hours of their Minor Injury Unit located at Charter Medical Private Hospital Ballinderry.

People from Longford and Westmeath from the age of 16 and over will now be able to access the Minor Injury Unit on Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm; and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm and Bank Holidays from 10am to 6pm.

There is no charge for patients who have Medical Card or who have a referral letter from their General Practice, Out of Hours Service or from the ED. People can walk-in to this public service for a fee of €75, which is less than the €100.00 fee charged if they were to attend an Emergency Department.

Waiting times for patients who attend Injury Units are significantly less than those who may have to wait in busy Emergency Departments while more acutely ill patients are triaged as a priority. The average time to be seen and discharged in an Injury Unit is under two hours.

Patients who experience an injury and who should attend an Injury Unit are as follows:

Broken bones, sprains and strains, from knees to toes

Broken bones, sprains and strains, from collarbone to fingertips

Minor facial injuries (including oral, dental and nasal injuries)

Minor scalds and burns

Wounds, bites, cuts, grazes and scalp lacerations (cuts)

Small abscesses and boils

Splinters and fish hooks

Objects stuck in eyes, ears or nose

Minor head injuries (Fully conscious patients, who did not have a loss of consciousness or vomit after the head injury.)

The Mullingar Minor Injury Unit also provides full imaging and x-ray facilities in order for patients to be fully diagnosed and treated onsite.

Kay Slevin, Hospital Manager Mullingar Hospital said: “We are delighted to extend the opening hours of Mullingar Minor Injuries Unit. People in Longford and indeed Westmeath and really benefiting from this service, which ensures they can be seen and treated outside of the busy ED environment.

“The Minor Injury Unit is a walk-in service with no referral necessary and full diagnostics are available on site. The development of an Injury Unit has also benefitted our excellent and committed Emergency Department staff who continue to provide a valued emergency service to our patients,” added Ms Slevin.