HEALTH bosses will review efforts to increase patients’ use of the minor injuries unit at Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale, at the end of July.

The Argus and Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies are campaigning for the unit – which provides a vital alternative to A&E departments at other hospitals, which needs to see and treat a minimum 25 patients a day to remain open.

User numbers have risen since opening hours and x-ray provision were extended from March 1, in an effort to increase attendances, but they remain inconsistent.

With Aneurin Bevan Health Board having already considered closing the unit prior to the opening hours extension, doubts remain over its future.

The Argus and Mr Davies, who also wants to see a 24-hour pharmacy and a base for the GP outof- hours service at the hospital, are backing a Use It Or Lose It campaign to encourage more patients to use the unit for treatment of a range of minor injuries, rather than make an unnecessary journey to A&E at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, or even Prince Charles at Merthyr Tydfil.

Support has come from organisations and community figures in Blaenau Gwent, while people living in the area have indicated that the unit is important, but should be better promoted and signposted.

The unit, which opened with the rest of the hospital in autumn 2010, opens from 9am-7pm, Monday-Friday, but is closed at weekends and on bank holidays. The health board is reluctant to close the unit, which is a valuable alternative to A&E in north Gwent.

Without the minimum 25 patients a day required to ensure the emergency nurse practitioners who run the unit can maintain and develop their skills, it will have a tough choice to make. A report for the health board meeting today proposes a further review to assess its viability at the end of July.

● The minor injuries unit can see and treat limb injuries, minor head injuries, burns and scalds, sprains and insect bites.

The hospital is at Lime Avenue, Ebbw Vale, on part of the former steelworks site. The correct postcode is NP23 6GL, though on some map systems it can be found by inputting NP23 8XE.