"Falmouth Minor Injury Unit"

Over the last 2 years, I have needed to use the the above services on a number of occasions as result of a number of un-related minor injuries. On all occasions, the injuries have occurred on weekend or daytime evening, the most recent being today. I have, on all occasions, found the Falmouth Hospital MIU facility fantastic. I have been able to phone directly to the MIU, before coming in, to get advice on whether the injury was appropriate for, or required MIU treatment. My calls have always been answered within a few minutes, and the advice given excellent. On each occasion, the staff have advised that I came in just to be on the safe side, and have ended up providing some form of treatment. Staff have been friendly, patient and efficient both on the phone, and also in person when arriving for treatment. The MIU facility is perfectly located for ease of access, and the free ample parking has enabled me to arrive and park swiftly following my initial phone call. As a tax payer, I feel that the MIU service is an excellent way of providing local, accessible and practical treatment for minor injuries (particularly for people who work regular daytime hours - being open until 8pm). The facility avoids the lengthy journey to a main A&E unit, leaving that facility clearer for more serious injuries. The MIU unit also reduces the number of people visiting main Hospitals considering current infection and vomiting virus issues. I feel that as the MIU unit offers good, efficient, accessible and practical treatment, it encourages patients to seek timely and early medical advice/treatment where otherwise they may be reluctant to do so until the situation has worsened, therefore avoiding more involved and lengthy treatment. This has a general benefit to public health and use of tax payer's money. I have lived in a number of UK Cities outside Cornwall but can honestly say that for minor injuries, the Falmouth MIU facility is far better than offered in the other places that I have lived. I have also had reason to visit the Serco out of hours doctor at Falmouth Hospital (3 years ago), and the Physiotherapy service at Falmouth Hospital earlier this year, and have found both of these services to be excellent for similar reasons. The services offered at Falmouth Hospital are ones to be proud of. Please pass the above comments to the relevant departments, and pass on my thanks to staff on those departments.