New name and logo for Injuries Unit at Roscommon University Hospital

Roscommon Injury Unit is the new name for the Minor Injuries Unit located in the Urgent Care centre of Roscommon University Hospital.

The Roscommon Injuries Unit is one of 11 Injury Units now in place across the country.

The Roscommon Injuries Unit is located in the urgent care centre and is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm and can treat both adults and children aged 5 and over. 

Injury units are designed and equipped for the treatment of patients with broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns that will not need overnight admission to hospital. 

Patients who present to the Roscommon Injury Unit will have access to X-Ray 7 days per week.  In Roscommon Injuries Unit our nursing staff are trained in ordering x-rays to aid prompt treatment and diagnosis.  Our medical and nursing staff can reduce joint dislocations, apply plaster casts and treat wounds by stitches and other methods.  On discharge home patients have access to physiotherapy and trauma clinics. 

They are staffed by a Consultant led team of doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, nurses, and radiographers. Patients can go directly to the Roscommon Injuries Unit or be referred by a GP.

If the injury requires admission or further intervention; our team can refer patients to orthopaedics or other specialist directly in Galway University Hospital. 

Injury Units are not designed to treat serious head, back or neck injuries, abdominal (stomach) pain, medical illnesses or mental health problems.  They do not treat children under the age of five, because of the special medical requirements of young children.

Clinical Nurse Manager of the Roscommon Injuries Unit, Caitriona Rayner explains, “So far this year (2016) Roscommon Injury Unit has treated over 3,000 patients for a wide variety of injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, and minor burns. Last year it treated 5,118 patients and we know from feedback received that our patients have a very positive experience. We want to make sure that everyone knows just what the Roscommon Injury Unit treats. On average patients who attended the Roscommon Injury Unit are treated and discharged with 58 minutes of arrival. The unit is also open every weekend from 8am to 8pm”.

Roscommon University Hospital is urging the public from Roscommon and surrounding counties to think of the Roscommon Injury Unit, rather than an Emergency Department when they suffer a minor injury that they feel needs hospital attention.

There is no charge for patients with full medical cards or those patients with valid medical/GP referral letter.

For further information and details on all of the Injury Units visit www.hse.ie/injuryunits or on watch the information video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNe6_ykLTIs