19 June 2019

Minor Injury Unit Review - recommendations agreed for 4 units

A review of Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Aberdeenshire, which has been underway since March 2018 has, for 4 further units, moved into the final phase.

At today’s meeting of the Integration Joint Board (19.6.19) members discussed a paper recommending future operating models for 4 of the 9 MIUs that are part of the review.

Following a period of public consultation with affected communities, recommendations have been agreed for the units at Aboyne, Stonehaven, Turriff and Huntly. Recommendations for the units at Insch and Inverurie were previously agreed and were implemented earlier this year. Recommendations for the units in Banff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead will come to future meetings of the IJB for discussion and approval.

Rhona Atkinson, Chair of the IJB, said: “Discussion at today’s meeting of the IJB has been robust and I would like to thank the team behind the review for all their hard work and for putting forward recommendations that are right for each unit and community whilst being cognizant on the wider impacts.

“A huge amount of work has been done to get us to this point and I am looking forward to recommendations for the remaining three units which are part of this review, coming to us soon.”

Cllr Anne Stirling, Vice Chair of the IJB said: “Today’s meeting really highlighted to me the need to continue to engage with our communities to ensure that there is a better understanding of what level of care and treatment, a Minor Injury Unit can deliver. They are not ‘Casualties or Accident and Emergencies and it is wrong to ask our dedicated and highly trained nurses to take on more than they should deliver.

“Our MIUs are, nurse led units that fulfill an important role treating minor injuries such as sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, cuts and grazes, minor scalds and burns, minor head injuries and other minor medical issues.”


Aboyne MIU
Aboyne Community Hospital,
13 Bellwood Rd
AB34 5HQ 

Agreed recommendation: Dedicated Minor Injury Nurse and service between 0800-2200 seven days a week, with in-hours support from GP surgery and Out of Hours support from GMED. 

Reason for recommendation: Due to low presentations overnight (1.4%) with 82% seen during ‘working hours’ 0800-1800, a move to close between 2200-0800 will allow for better support to the ward overnight and will ensure a safer working environment for nursing staff.


Turriff MIU Turriff Community Hospital
Balmellie Rd
AB53 4DQ 

Agreed recommendation: Minor Injury Service 0800-1800 7 days a week with full medical support from GPs when required. 

Reason for recommendation: With the vast majority of presentations occurring during the hours of 0800-1800 there is a need to ensure that during those hours there is provision of a high quality MIU. Closing the MIU after 1800 will allow for better nursing support for the ward.


Huntly MIU
Jubilee Hospital
Bleachfield St
AB54 8EX 

Agreed recommendation: Maintain current 24/7, Minor Injury Service with in-hours support from GPs and out of hours support from GMED  

Reason for recommendation: Based on the location of the unit within Jubilee Hospital, which is also a Scottish Ambulance Service, Base, the wide geographic area and the rurality of the population that it covers, poor transport links and diverse and high numbers of presentations maintaining the current service is the preferred option.


Stonehaven MIU
Kincardine Community Hospital
Kirkton Rd
AB39 2PB  

Agreed Recommendation: Minor Injury service 0800-2200 seven days a week, with in-hours support from GPs and Out of Hours support from GMED. 

Reason for recommendation: Data collected as part of the review shows a need for the service between 1800-2200 with 22% of attendances during these hours. Closing the unit from 2200 - 0800 will mean better support for the ward overnight and covers the hours when many people use the unit.