PEOPLE with non-life threatening injuries or ailments are being urged not to attend Oxfordshire's Emergency Departments and instead make use of their local walk in centre.

The county's A&E rooms often become swamped at this time of year, and in January saw an increase in patients compared to the same time last year.

In an effort to ease some of that pressure health chiefs have launched a campaign this year to remind patients that Minor Injuries Units (MIU) are there to treat just that - minor injuries.

Sprains and strains and suspected broken limbs; minor head injuries and cuts and grazes can all be dealt with doctors and nurses at the local units, with health bosses keen to reduce the strain on the John Radcliffe Hospital and Horton Hospital emergency room.

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The Oxford Health-run MIUs are based at Abingdon Community Hospital, Witney Community Hospital Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley - as well as first aid units in Bicester and Wallingford

Phil Bedwell, the Clinical Lead at Abingdon MIU, which treats up to 1,500 adults and children every month, said: “Emergency departments at acute hospitals are just that.

"They are for emergencies, for those serious, potentially life-threatening cases not sprained ankles, wounds, bites and eye injuries.

“Of course, when someone is hurt they want to get medical help as soon as possible. Our MIU teams have all the training, skills and experience to help in most cases. We have the expertise to deal with complex needs and we have x-ray too, so we can see if you’ve broken something or it’s a sprain.

“We can examine, treat and discharge you without follow-on, or arrange a referral to an outpatient clinic and keep you out of hospital.

"So rather than head off to the JR or the Horton, ring the NHS 111 number and get an appointment with us or your nearest MIU or first aid unit.”

Also read: 'Someone could die' queuing to get to Oxford's John Radcliffe A&E

The most recent NHS figures show the A&E departments at the JR and Horton saw 13,362 patients in January, with 14 per cent (1,867) waiting more than four hours to be seen.

The figure is a six per cent increase on the number of patients who attended A&E in 2018 (12,580) though the proportion of those having to wait more than four hours has reduced year on year from 13.2 per cent.

Here's a list (not exhaustive) of the injuries and ailments which can be treated at MIUs.

minor scalds and burns

ear and throat infections

skin infections and rashes

eye problems

coughs and colds

feverish illness in adults

feverish illness in children

abdominal pain

vomiting and diarrhoea

emergency contraception