A minor change to the emergency department at Hairmyres is making a big difference to patient care.

A brand new dedicated minor injuries area has been created in the formal dental outpatient clinic and staff love the new facility.

Jan Miller, minor injury team leader, said: “The whole team is really excited about the new minor injuries unit.

“It is a wonderful facility and has all the necessary equipment and space, including a dedicated paediatric area, to ensure we can see patients and treat patients more efficiently. This will have a positive impact on the experience for patients and reduce waiting times. It will also have a positive impact on patient flow through the hospital.”

The minor injuries area is just one of a number of actions which were implemented in May to ensure Hairmyres could cope with any extra patients who may attend the hospital following the closure of the A&E department at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow.

The six-month plan also included increased capacity in high dependency care, additional recruitment and the introduction of the Hospital at Home service to provide specialist care at home for frail elderly patients.

The impact of the closure will be closely monitored on an ongoing basis to inform the longer term impact on Hairmyres Hospital, and a formal evaluation will be completed by 30 September 2015.