Roscommon Injury Unit is here for you every day this Winter

As winter takes hold and as we approach Christmas, Roscommon University Hospital is reminding people that their Injury Unit is open from 8am to 8pm, every day of the year including Christmas Day, St Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Day to treat a wide range of injuries which are non-life or non-limb threatening, as an alternative to visiting an emergency department. The Injury Unit is staffed by Doctors, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Nurses.

Maggie Mew, Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the Injury Unit said, “Every year and particularly during the winter months, emergency departments see vast numbers of patients who could be treated more appropriately somewhere else and a busy emergency department is not the right place for you if you have a minor injury.

“At Roscommon Injury Unit we are able to see, diagnose and treat a wide range of recent injuries that are not life-threatening and unlikely to need admission to hospital for both adults and children over the age of five. You do not need to make an appointment, we have a walk-in service and the team is experienced in treating people quickly and efficiently.

“We treat injuries from shoulder to finger and from knee to toe including non-life or non-limb threatening injuries like broken bones, sprains and strains (from knees to toes and 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; and minor head injuries (fully-conscious patients who do not have loss of consciousness or vomit after head injury).

“The injury unit provides quick access to tests and x-rays and should you require a referral to specialist care, we will arrange all that for you.

“Injuries we do not treat at the unit include, conditions due to medical illness (e.g. fever, seizures, headache); injury causing chest pain, abdominal pain or shortness of breath; serious head injury;

chest pain; respiratory conditions; abdominal (stomach) pain; gynaecological problems; neck or back pain; pregnancy-related conditions; pelvis or hip fractures; injuries due to self-harm; suspected serious injury after an accident; not being able to walk following a fall from a height or a motor vehicle crash; and injuries that are more than 6 weeks old.  In these cases, you should attend your nearest emergency department, rather than an injury unit.

“This winter if you need treatment for a minor injury, come to Roscommon Injury Unit and by doing so, you will get the care and treatment you need, you will avoid long wait times and more importantly by coming to us for your care, you are allowing emergency department staff to concentrate on patients who have serious and life-threatening conditions.

“If you are looking for advice on your injury and want to know if you should attend the Roscommon Injury Unit, please do call us on 090 663 2212.”

For more information on Injury Units go to hse.ie