HEALTH chiefs say many patients have now gone back to using Accrington Victoria Hospital’s minor injuries unit after deserting it for the recently-opened urgent care centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Last month, they revealed a 10 per cent drop in the number of people using the unit in November as people were opting to go to Blackburn instead.
They urged people to support their local hospital by using the minor injuries unit – and even opened it over the festive season, including Christmas Day, for the first time in many years.
And they say the move seems to have done the trick, as the unit was well-used over the festive period.
On 23 December, it treated more than 90 patients which is the average for a unit of its size. Only 30 patients used the unit on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day the figure stood at 73 patients.
But health chiefs say that since then, the number of patients being dealt with by the hospital has returned to the average level of around 90 a day.
The unit deals with a wide range of health problems ranging from sprains and strains to ligament injuries, minor pain problems, muscular tension, ear, nose and throat infections and respiratory conditions.
A spokesman for East Lancashire Primary Care Trust said it was vital patients continued to support the unit and were aware of the facility.
He added that the unit would be open every day from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
