Your health

If you have a minor injury, such as a cut that need stitches, a broken bone, a sprains or minor burn, please call NHS 24 on 111 and ask for our Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) service.

NHS 24 will give you advice on what to do next. This may include a video or telephone consultation, and/or, a face-to-face appointment at one of our MIUs.

If you are referred to the MIU, your assessment will be carried out by a team of highly experienced staff, led by Emergency Nurse Practitioners. They will give you quick access to health information, advice and treatment. Treatment includes being able to arrange x-rays if required, apply plasters or splints and stitch and dress wounds.

Further information

When should you visit a Minor Injuries Unit?

Your local MIU can treat you if you have:

• Cuts and wounds (including those that may need stitches)
• Minor burns and scalds
• Sprains, minor injuries or broken bones – in legs below the knee, and arms below the shoulder, where you can bear the weight through your foot or move your fingers (our experienced staff can arrange x-rays and apply plaster if required)
• Insect bites or other animal bites
• Tetanus immunisation after an injury
• Minor head injury – where there has been no loss of consciousness or vomiting, and no residual symptoms i.e. headache, nausea, visual disturbance, dizziness or any other symptom of concussion
• Removal of foreign bodies from eyes, nose or ears
• Nose injuries and broken noses
• Removal of rings, earrings and studs.

Which MIU should I go to?

Walk in appointments are available at all of our MIU sites, but we would encourage patients to call NHS24 on 111 to get a scheduled appointment first. This reduces waiting times and means you will be seen quicker by one of our highly experienced staff, led by Emergency Nurse Practitioners.

For children (under 16 years old) and babies

For adults (anyone over 16 years old)

You can visit New Stobhill Hospital, New Victoria Hospital or Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The units are open 9.00am to 9.00pm every day of the year.

The Vale of Leven Hospital has a dedicated MIU which is open 8.00am – 9.00pm every day of the year. Outside these hours if you require a face-to-face appointment you will be seen by the GP Out of Hours Service.

Always call NHS 24 on 111 first to ensure you get the right care, right place, right time.

For alcohol and drug addiction problems you can either self refer directly to the local specialist teams or contact your GP. Crisis services are also available at the Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Crisis Service.

There are also various voluntary organisations operating in local areas to offer support for those who are having problems with alcohol or drug misuse.

Further Information

Which services are available?

This service offers open access to all. They receive referrals from a wide range of services but also welcome self-referrals, either through drop in or by telephone. They provide a range of care and treatment options for people living in Glasgow affected by drugs and/or alcohol. These services include:

• alcohol support and treatment, including community detoxification and protective medications
• drug support and treatment, including opiate replacement therapy
• support with a range of social issues
• support to young people affected by alcohol and / or drug issues
• support and treatment services to parents affected by alcohol and / or drug problems
• support and treatment services to those involved in offending and affected by alcohol and / or drug problems, and
• access to community-based and residential Alcohol Related Brain Damage services
• access to Employability services
• harm reduction advice and interventions
• needle replacement
• blood Borne Virus testing and treatment
• access to alcohol and drug Tier 4 services – psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, dietetics and hospital services (specialist in-patient and outpatients)
• assertive Outreach is offered both from locality teams and the Crisis Outreach Service
• access to residential rehabilitation services
• access to Drug Crisis Centre and Link up
• access to community Recovery Hubs, and
• Signposting to a range of support services and recovery communities.

How do I get a service?

You can contact your local Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service. If the service is for your own addiction issues then an assessment of need will be carried out. You can also get help from:-
• North East Glasgow Recovery Community
• North West Glasgow Recovery Community
• South Glasgow Recovery Community

What do I do if I need help urgently?

If you have a life threatening emergency then call 999.

If you just need help with your addiction then within office hours, you can contact your local Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service (this should link to list of services page – below) where you will be given an urgent appointment.

Out with office hours if the service is open, we will try to accommodate you. If we cannot and you have a drug problem, please phone Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Crisis Centre on: 0141 420 6969.

If you have an alcohol problem, please contact your own GP or out of hours service.

You can also access information and advice from Drinkline on:

• 0300 123 1110 

Glasgow and Partners Emergency Social Work Service on:

• 0300 343 1505

You can also contact NHS 24 on:

• 111

Sandyford is the specialist sexual health service for Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Sandyford Central is the headquarters based at Charing Cross Glasgow. There are also local clinics throughout the Glasgow and Clyde area. To find more information on the services they provide, opening times and clinic locations, visit: www.sandyford.org

Options for your pregnancy

If you are pregnant and are unsure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can speak to your own GP or to a member of staff at Sandyford Sexual Health Services. You can make an appointment to talk to a nurse about options on 0141 211 8620. They will explain your choices and will ensure you have the information and time you need to make a decision.

You can also visit the Sandyford website.

Booking an appointment

Sandyford is an appointment-only service. The best way to book an appointment for most services is online. Where a Sandyford service cannot be booked online, please book an appointment by calling 0141 211 8130, Monday to Friday, 8.45 am to 4pm.

Which services are offered?

• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing
• Assessment for people who have recently been exposed to an STI
• Testing for people who may be at higher risk of STI or HIV
• PrEP services
• Contraception
• Abortion services
• Young people’s dedicated clinics
• Vasectomy
• Free Condoms

To find out more about Sandyford’s services visit the Sandyford website.

If you have a problem with your eyes, please visit your local optometrist. Every high street opticians have an optometrist who provides NHS services.

• It should say If your optician is closed, and you can’t wait until it reopens, call NHS 24 on 111 right away.
• If you have an eye problem such as a scratch or something that is stuck in your eye, you should call NHS24 on 111 and ask for the Minor Injuries Unit. For eye injuries that requires immediate emergency treatment, you should go to your nearest A&E.

Children under 1

Children under 1 should still go to their local community optician, who can then refer onwards to other health care professionals in primary or secondary care if needed.

Call NHS 24 on 111 or visit NHS Inform if you are unwell and need some advice, when your GP or dental practice is closed.

If it’s an emergency, and you need access to urgent care, but it’s not life threatening, you should always first phone NHS 24 on 111, or, speak to your local GP before attending ED.

They will give you advice depending on your symptoms. This could be managing symptoms at home, or visiting your local pharmacy. If you need to see an on-call doctor or other health professional, they will arrange this for you.

You can also visit the NHS 24 website.

Other languages – NHS 24 and 111.