A PUBLIC consultation on four options for the future of minor injury care at Prince Philip Hospital (PPH), Llanelli, will launch on Monday (April 28).
The 12-week consultation will run until 22 July 2025 with events being held in the community and online. A questionnaire will be available for people to share their views and there will also be focus groups and meetings with community groups and stakeholders.
The Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital provides treatment for minor injuries such as cuts, sprains and minor burns. It has been operating with changed opening hours on a temporary basis since November 2024. The current opening hours are from 8am to 8pm every day, as opposed to 24/7, primarily due to staffing, quality and safety concerns.
The Health Board is consulting with staff, the local community and stakeholders, from Monday, on four proposed options for the future of the service.
They are:
- Option 1 – Doctor-led 12 hours (current temporary model)
- Option 2 – Doctor-led 14 hours
- Option 3 – Doctor-led phased (initially 12 hours, increasing to 14 hours, then 24 hours as staffing allows)
- Option 4 – Urgent care centre (Same Day Urgent Care type model) 14 hours
(All options less than 24-hours will also include an additional two hours of staffing to treat people who attend the unit towards the end of opening hours)
People will have an opportunity to share their views on the proposed options and any impacts they may have, as well as propose alternative options.
Mark Henwood, Interim Executive Medical Director, encouraged the community to get involved and share their views
He said: “We understand how important this service is to the people of Llanelli, and we are committed to providing a solution that meets the needs of the community while ensuring safe, high-quality care.
“We are grateful to members of the community, including SOSPPAN who have been part of the process of developing the options that we are now seeking views on.
“We want to continue to work together to make the right decision and the best way to do this is for you to read about the options, or attend an event to find out more, and then complete the questionnaire and share your views, or make other suggestions.”
Members of the public can attend the public drop-in events to have a cup of tea and ask health board staff, including clinicians, any questions about the options, or to offer new ideas.
Events will be held between 3pm and 6pm (drop in anytime) at:
- Thursday 8 May – New Cross Hands Working Men’s Club, 41 Llandeilo Road, Cross Hands, Llanelli, SA14 6RD
- Monday 12 May – Selwyn Samuel Centre, Lleidi Suite, Park Crescent, Llanelli, SA15 3AE
- Friday 16 May – Ammanford Pensioners’ Hall, Quay Street, Ammanford, SA18 3EN
- Monday 19 May – Burry Port Memorial Hall Parc-Y-Minos Street, Burry Port, SA16 0BN
Online events will be held on:
- Tuesday 6 May 6.30pm-8pm
- Tuesday 20 May 1pm-2.30pm
- Thursday 22 May 10am-11.30am
You can read more, and register for an online event, from Monday 28 April, when the consultation launches. More information will be available online at Hywel Dda’s Prince Philip Hospital – Minor Injury Unit webpage or you can call 0300 303 8322, option 5, local call rates.
The consultation follows engagement and option development that has taken place with representative staff, patients and community representatives, including a campaign group during recent months.
They considered a longer list of 12 options, four of which were developed by stakeholders. They scored them, based on criteria such as safety, sustainability, and patient focus, resulting in four options for consultation.
In the meantime, the current temporary opening hours at the MIU, of 8.00am-8.00pm will continue. If you live in, near, or are visiting Llanelli and have a minor injury in the daytime, you can continue to walk into the Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital.
If your minor injury occurs between 8.00pm and 8.00am and cannot wait until the next day, please use:
- the NHS Wales symptom checker online (https://111.wales.nhs.uk/selfassessments)
- or call NHS 111 Wales for advice (choose option 2 for mental health support)
In a life-threatening emergency, whether you are an adult, young person, or for a child, always dial 999.
The hospital’s Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) is unaffected by these changes. It still provides 24 hour a day treatment for very sick adult medical patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke or heart attack. The service must be accessed via 999, 111 or GP referral.
Following conscientious consideration of the consultation and its findings, the Board will consider all feedback and evidence collected before making a final decision, planned for the Board meeting in September 2025.
Mr Henwood added: “The Health Board is committed to ensuring that future provision at the Minor Injury Unit provides safe, sustainable, and equitable care for the community.”
