Prince Philip Hospital Minor Injury Unit – next steps

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Prince Philip Hospital Minor Injury Unit will be developed into an Urgent Care Treatment Centre, Hywel Dda University Health Board decided, following consultation with the community.

A consultation on the longer-term future of the service was held from 28 April to 22 July 2025, to gather views from patients, staff, the public, and stakeholders on four options with a variation of opening hours or providing an urgent-care type model.

More than 700 questionnaire responses were received, alongside hundreds of conversations held through public drop-in and online events, meetings with community groups and organisations, as well as many direct engagement sessions with patients and staff.

The chosen option (4a) was developed with the help of the community.

It means the existing Minor Injury Unit and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services will be brought together into a single, integrated centre. It will allow patients to walk in and be assessed, diagnosed, and treated for a wider range of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions – including minor injuries, minor illnesses, and urgent medical needs that do not require an overnight hospital stay. The centre will be open for 12 hours a day (08:00 – 20:00), seven days a week, with staff working for a further two hours to close.

The change represents an investment and an enhancement of the service to meet the needs of the population. It also helps to address staffing challenges and provides a model that will be more attractive to potential staff.

The consultation process was assisted by representatives from Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), Llais, Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust, Swansea Bay University Health Board and other partners, who helped ensure a focus on openness and accessibility.

The MIU has operated on temporary daytime hours (8am–8pm) since November 2024, following concerns raised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales about overnight safety risks and staffing pressures. The findings of the consultation confirmed that the previous 24-hour model could not be reinstated safely or sustainably.

An Urgent Care Treatment Centre would provide:

  • Minor injury care for adults and children over 12 months (e.g. sprains, cuts, minor burns).
  • Minor illness care for adults (e.g. throat and ear infections, mild allergic reactions).
  • Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) for urgent medical needs (e.g. severe headaches, cellulitis, diabetes flare-ups), currently accessed via GP referral.

Option 4a was viewed positively by many stakeholders, including staff, clinicians, and community representatives, for its broader scope and potential to reduce pressure on other services.

Delivering the new Urgent Care Treatment Centre is estimated to take 6-12months, to recruit staff and deal with any infrastructure changes.

The Health Board also agreed to an evaluation of the change after six months, including patient experience, medical outcomes, transport and staffing. A programme of communication will take place for staff and the community explaining the pathways into the unit.

Prince Philip Hospital Minor Injury Unit will be developed into an Urgent Care Treatment Centre, Hywel Dda University Health Board decided, following consultation with the community.

A consultation on the longer-term future of the service was held from 28 April to 22 July 2025, to gather views from patients, staff, the public, and stakeholders on four options with a variation of opening hours or providing an urgent-care type model.

More than 700 questionnaire responses were received, alongside hundreds of conversations held through public drop-in and online events, meetings with community groups and organisations, as well as many direct engagement sessions with patients and staff.

The chosen option (4a) was developed with the help of the community.

It means the existing Minor Injury Unit and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services will be brought together into a single, integrated centre. It will allow patients to walk in and be assessed, diagnosed, and treated for a wider range of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions – including minor injuries, minor illnesses, and urgent medical needs that do not require an overnight hospital stay. The centre will be open for 12 hours a day (08:00 – 20:00), seven days a week, with staff working for a further two hours to close.

The change represents an investment and an enhancement of the service to meet the needs of the population. It also helps to address staffing challenges and provides a model that will be more attractive to potential staff.

The consultation process was assisted by representatives from Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), Llais, Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust, Swansea Bay University Health Board and other partners, who helped ensure a focus on openness and accessibility.

The MIU has operated on temporary daytime hours (8am–8pm) since November 2024, following concerns raised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales about overnight safety risks and staffing pressures. The findings of the consultation confirmed that the previous 24-hour model could not be reinstated safely or sustainably.

An Urgent Care Treatment Centre would provide:

  • Minor injury care for adults and children over 12 months (e.g. sprains, cuts, minor burns).
  • Minor illness care for adults (e.g. throat and ear infections, mild allergic reactions).
  • Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) for urgent medical needs (e.g. severe headaches, cellulitis, diabetes flare-ups), currently accessed via GP referral.

Option 4a was viewed positively by many stakeholders, including staff, clinicians, and community representatives, for its broader scope and potential to reduce pressure on other services.

Delivering the new Urgent Care Treatment Centre is estimated to take 6-12months, to recruit staff and deal with any infrastructure changes.

The Health Board also agreed to an evaluation of the change after six months, including patient experience, medical outcomes, transport and staffing. A programme of communication will take place for staff and the community explaining the pathways into the unit.

Page last updated: 09 Oct 2025, 09:35 AM