Minor injuries unit for sprained ankle?

[KohLanta]

Random question but just wondering if anyone knows? I've a sprained ankle and hoping I can get it better at home but thinking it probably needs an X-ray. It's Saturday afternoon so not the best time to clog up A&E and probably unbearable in this heat. The local hospitals say they have a minor injuries unit as part of A&E. What does this mean? Are minor injuries treated differently to other A&E things, or is it just all part of A&E - so the waiting time will be as long as for A&E?

Wondering whether to wait until Monday and see if it gets better at home or head there now...

Minor injuries is the right place. Ours used to have an xray, not sure if they still do.

Agreed. Can't advise as to wait times etc. But some sprains need prompt attention.

My sprain was actually a broken foot, so it's definitely best to get it checked 😂

Ok thanks, but mainly asking if minor injuries unit is different to 'normal' A&E?

A and E wouldn't be appropriate. It's hardly an emergency. Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere, but minor injuries if you must

Yes and no.

Critical injuries and illnesses won't be seen there, generally a much shorter wait time, ability to xray etc

What are you wondering about specifically?

I’d only go to minor injuries if it was attached to an A&E dept - so you could get treated if it was broken. Every time I have gone to minor injuries, there’s been a massive wait and they didn’t have the skills or equipment available to treat the problem - utterly useless!

Ring them and ask if they can do an X-ray. Also check opening times as if X-ray closes at 5 you might be best to wait till tomorrow or go elsewhere.

My son broke his arm last week on holiday in south west - 111 directed me to a couple of minor injury units and advised me to call ahead to check what’s available. First one I tried couldn’t do paediatric X-rays but second one I called told me to come down and within 2 hours of arrival we left with his arm cast up. Then received a referral to fracture clinic at local hospital who have also been great.

My local hospital has a MIU as part of A&E. It's in its own area off the A&E waiting room and is staffed by nurse practitioners. It's generally quite quick to be seen and treated.

Just attended minor injuries this morning with one of my children. I'm in NI but you phone them and they tell you a time to come in. I rang at 9am, had appt at 9.30am and we were seen straightaway by a nurse practitioner who then organised an xray down the hall. No breaks, support bandage put on with instructions to come back if not better in 10 days. Out and on the way home by 9.55am. Excellent service and feel lucky to have it within a 20 minute drive. I would not attend A&E unless it was serious.

Ok thanks. What a different range of experiences. I've rung the local place and they said to come in and do an x-ray. They said waiting time is currently an hour so 🙏

Glad you’re getting it seem to. Sometimes the swelling hides a small fracture

My sprain was also 2 broken bones.

Hooe you get seen quickly OP

A and E is for acute injuries and life threatening conditions. A sprain can be dealt with by mi and many have triage, xrays and fracture clinics. You can be referred if needs be.

No!! Have you really never sprained an ankle before? It will be fine in a few days. Even in the unlikely event of a fracture, they won't treat it just tell you to wait for it to heal.... all you need is "the therapeutic use of time". A similar thing happened to me a few years ago, and I never wasted medical time because I knew that I'd be fine.

This is wrong and it's dangerous advice. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using minor injuries for a sprain.

My sprain aka broken foot was put into a cast and I was in it for about ten weeks. So you're wrong about that bit too.

@Hbh17 I've now seen a doctor and waiting for an x-ray. They said I absolutely did the right thing coming in, and that the minor injuries unit is for exactly this. They said it could be broken and long term consequences could be awful if I'd just left it.

Just correcting your advice in case anyone else with a sprain reads this thread in the future.

I'm glad you're getting seen. Sprains are not trivial injuries a lot of the time despite what some PPs are wrongly saying. If not treated properly the effects can be long lasting and potentially serious. Everyone I know who has had sprains has needed treatment, including physiotherapy for a full recovery.

Try the RICE treatment:

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

works every time

I sprained an ankle, waited 5 days to get it checked out because I also thought it'd be fine in a few days...I got a telling off for not going in sooner and ended up on crutches for over a month!

MIU is exactly the right place for a sprain or a suspected non urgent fracture (no exposed bone or skin torsion present)

I broke my ankle and went to MIU? Seen, xrayed, plastered and home all with a couple of hours.

@KohLanta , thank god you've got more sense than these self-appointed guardians of the NHS who diagnose with their X-ray eyes over the internet and forbid strangers to get help with potentially serious conditions.

I did this when I twisted my ankle back in April. When it still hurt in May I got it seen to (privately)….x ray and MRI later it turns out I have tendon damage, ligament damage, and 2 other things I didn’t understand. Now waiting to see an orthopaedic doctor next week. Bloody wish I’d gone to get it xrayed when I first did it 🙁

to whoever said a sprained ankle will fix in a few days - if it does, it isn’t sprained! Sprains can take months to mend.

Glad you’re getting it seen OP.

Tell that to my plastered leg because I thought the 2 broken bones in my foot was a sprain.