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When it's not a life-threatening emergency

Minor Injury units or urgent care services offer medical help when it's not a life-threatening emergency and can help with many of the most common problems people go to Emergency Departments for.

These services can treat injuries that are not critical or life-threatening, such as:

• injuries to upper and lower limbs
• broken bones, sprains, bruises and wounds
• bites – human, animal and insect
• burns and scalds
• abscesses and wound infections
• minor head injuries
• broken noses and nosebleeds
• foreign bodies in the eyes and nose

Each Emergency Department in the Belfast Trust(external link opens in a new window / tab) has a minor injury stream which manages certain minor injuries from triage through the emergency nurse practitioners.

'Phone First' service

Phone First is a telephone service for members of the public who are unwell and considering travelling to an Emergency Department. Before attending an Emergency Department at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Mater Infirmorum Hospital or Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children you should PHONE FIRST on 028 9615 9444.

When you make a call, you will be assessed on the phone by a healthcare professional and will then be given advice and, if required, directed to the most appropriate urgent or community service to meet your treatment or care needs.

This could include direction to attend an Emergency Department, an Urgent Care Centre, a Minor Injuries Unit or being redirected to a GP, Pharmacist or other service.

Phone First does not replace 999 – it is for those patients considering attending an emergency department with a non-life-threatening issue.

For all emergencies that are life threatening, always call 999 immediately.

This can include: stroke, heart attack, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or major trauma.

You can also visit the A-Z Symptom Checker for information and advice.

• Is Phone First operational 24/7?
• What happens if I ring 999?
• Do I always need to Phone First?
• What happens when I call Phone First?
• Do I Phone First if taking my child to the Emergency Department?
• Will the person answering my call tell me which hospital/location to go to?
• What is the difference between GP out-of-hours and this service?
• How will my information be used?

Phone First currently operates 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. Outside of these times please contact GP Out of Hours Service

Children’s Emergency Department

Children under the age of 16 are treated within our paediatric service in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

If your child has a non-life threatening issue you can visit our Symptom Checker.

If your child is unwell and you are considering travelling to an Emergency Department you should Phone First.

If your child needs urgent medical care call 999.

If your child is experiencing life-threatening issue please attend your nearest Emergency Department.

Location of service

Our Emergency Departments are located at:

• Royal Victoria Hospital
• Mater Hospital
• Children’s Hospital

Locations where this service is delivered

• Children’s Hospital
• Mater Hospital
• Royal Victoria Hospital

DID YOU KNOW THERE IS  A FREE ONLINE SERVICE FOR CONTRACEPTIVES  WWW.sh24.org.uk

OVER 16 - MINOR INJURIES PHONE FIRST SERVICE - If you have an injury you can now phone the Minor Injuries Dept and get an advice/ appointment to be seen 028 96 159444 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)  

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES CLICK ON THIS LINK https://online.hscni.net/my-waiting-times-ni/

PERSISTENT COUGH FOR MORE THAN 3 WEEKS ?  PLEASE CONTACT THE SURGERY AND ARRANGE TO HAVE A TELEPHONE CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR.  

THIS SURGERY WILL CLOSE EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 1PM FROM 01 MARCH 2021