THE trusts behind Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Hospital are working on a system-wide plan to avoid delays this winter, which requires patients to make the most of minor injury units.

Hospital bosses are hoping to avoid a repeat of last year, when the Stourbridge Road MIU closed down on New Year's Eve while nurses helped struggling A&E departments in Redditch and Worcester.

Both are again experiencing exceptionally high numbers of patients.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: "We are working with our partners in the Acute Trust, in social care and with the clinical commissioning groups on a system-wide plan to help patients get safe and effective urgent care in the right place without unnecessary delays.

"We know our Minor Injury Units could be utilised more than they currently are and we want to continue encouraging people with minor injuries, including sprains, strains, wounds and minor burns to take them to their nearest MIU rather than A&E.

"Depending on demand over the winter period we will need to be flexible in supporting parts of the system experiencing pressure, but at this stage we have no plans to change existing arrangements for MIUs, and the message remains that if you have a minor injury the best place for you to go is to one of the county’s minor injury units.”

The town's MIU offers expert care for conditions such as cuts, grazes, sprains and burns, with waiting times averaging 20 minutes. Those with serious or life-threatening injuries only are encouraged to go straight to A&E.

For more information on MIUs, and the treatments available, visit hacw.nhs.uk/miu.