Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill visits new HSE Injury Unit in Ballina in advance of opening

In advance of it’s opening next week, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill visited the new HSE Injury Unit in Ballina yesterday and met the staff who will treat an expected 8,000 to 10,000 patients annually at the new facility.

The commencement of the new service, which falls under the governance of Mayo University Hospital, will provide a significant boost to the provision of urgent care in the west. By offering an alternative pathway for patients who might otherwise attend the ED, the service is expected to reduce demand, improve patient flow and support ED capacity to manage patients with more complex and urgent care needs.

The Injury Unit will open to patients from Mayo and neighbouring counties on a phased basis from Monday 16th of November. Located on the site of Ballina Hospital, Mercy Road, the Injury Unit will initially operate a phased opening between 10am and 4pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. By late December we anticipate the service will be available from 8am to 8pm every day.

The Injury Unit team can treat patients with non-life threatening injuries like broken bones, sprains, minor burns and wounds with dedicated X-ray and diagnostics available on site.

This is a walk-in facility, you do not need an appointment to attend. The service is for those aged five years and older, we cannot treat children under the age of five. The cost to attend an injury unit is €75 however there is no charge for patients with a medical card or a referral letter from their GP.

Speaking in Ballina, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said; "The opening of this new Injury Unit is an important step forward for urgent care services in Mayo and across the wider region.

"With Mayo University Hospital expected to see almost 48,000 Emergency Department attendances this year, this new Injury Unit in Ballina will improve patient experience while helping to ease the pressure on MUH's Emergency Department.

"Based on the experience of Roscommon Injury Unit, we expect between 8,000 and 10,000 patients annually to benefit from this new service and I was so pleased to meet the team today who will provide faster access to treatment for minor injuries closer to home for patients in Mayo."

Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht said; “It was fantastic to get a preview of the very impressive Mayo Local Injury Unit in Ballina yesterday with the Minister for Health. This is a game changing development for healthcare in Ballina and the wider Mayo community.

“It has been clear to me for some time that there is huge demand for this type of facility in Ballina and I am absolutely delighted and extremely proud to have it opening here to serve the people of the region.

“I want to thank Minister Carroll MacNeill for her genuine dedication to the project. She has supported this since the day she was appointed and I’m delighted that she made this her first stop while in the county. I want to wish all the staff and the management team well in the clinic as it opens to the public in the coming weeks.”

Mary Warde, HSE Integrated Healthcare Manager for Mayo added; “Ballina Injury Unit is one of a number of alternatives to the busy Emergency Department in Mayo University Hospital and patients can be seen, treated and discharged usually much faster than a visit to the ED. This is a very welcome development for the people of Mayo and surrounding communities. I would encourage all our patients to consider all care options open to them, which include acute and community based services and the new Ballina injury unit.”

Catherine Donohoe, MUH Hospital Manager said; “Over the past number of years we have seen significant increases in attendance to our emergency department in MUH and it’s crucial that our patients have access to safe and appropriate alternative pathways for care. The new injury unit will provide specialist care and treatment for a wide range of injuries, seven days a week, and it’s location in Ballina will serve a large and diverse population. I am very grateful to the team who have prioritised developing this new service for the people of Mayo.”