Teams at Vale of Leven Hospital have issued advice to tourism businesses to help visitors access the right care, in the right place, when they need it.
With thousands of people visiting the area each year, most enjoy their stay without requiring medical attention. However, staff at the Vale say knowing how to access healthcare can help visitors and local residents receive the support they need quickly and appropriately when illness or injury strikes.
Hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks and other tourism operators are being provided with information on local healthcare services and the best ways to access care if a guest becomes ill or injured during their stay.
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to help people receive the right care in the right place, while ensuring visitors and local residents understand how to access unscheduled care appropriately.
The information highlights the range of services available locally, including the Minor Injuries Unit and GP Out of Hours Service at the Vale, while reminding people that these services should always be accessed through NHS 24 by calling 111.
Visitors and local residents are also being reminded to think carefully about how they access unscheduled care, helping to ensure everyone receives the support they need in the most appropriate setting.
Community pharmacies, GP practices, dentists and opticians can provide expert advice and treatment for many common conditions. If a condition is urgent, or if it is out of hours, people should contact NHS 24 by calling 111. A trained clinician will assess their needs and direct them to the most appropriate service.
Rebecca Reid, Interim Director of NHSGGC’s Clyde Sector, said: “Thousands of people visit this area every year and we want them to feel confident they can access the right healthcare if they need it.
“Tourism businesses are often among the first places visitors turn to when they need help or advice. By providing businesses with clear information about local healthcare services, we’re helping visitors access the right care quickly, safely and appropriately.
“The Vale provides important unscheduled care services for the local area, including a Minor Injuries Unit and GP Out of Hours Service. These services should always be accessed through NHS 24 by calling 111.
“Whether someone is visiting the area or lives locally, our message is simple. Think carefully about how you access care. If your condition is urgent, or if it’s out of hours, you should contact NHS 24 by calling 111. A trained clinician will assess your needs and direct you to the most appropriate service.”
The information provided to tourism operators includes guidance on the types of injuries that can be treated by the Minor Injuries Unit, services which may be more appropriate for other conditions, and advice on when people should call 999 or attend an Emergency Department in the event of a serious illness or injury.
The full advice to tourism businesses:
Dear proprietor,
At this time of year, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and surrounding areas are extremely busy with visitors.
While the vast majority of people who come to enjoy this beautiful area have an enjoyable stay without mishap, it is inevitable that some of your guests will fall ill, or sustain an injury, during their time here.
For many of those guests the nearest hospital is the Vale of Leven in Alexandria, which provides a range of services for people who need care unexpectedly or out of normal hours.
However, while the Vale of Leven offers a comprehensive package of unscheduled and out-of-hours care, it is important that members of the public are given appropriate information that allows them to access the right care in the right place.
The Vale of Leven Hospital does not offer an ‘walk-in’ A&E service, so people who come to the hospital without an appointment may need to wait a considerable time, and may then be directed to another site within NHSGGC.
To avoid this, we would encourage you to make yourself, and your staff, aware of the following:
- Vale of Leven is NOT an A&E service. It offers a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) and a GP Out of Hours Service – both of which should always be accessed through NHS 24 by calling 111.
- If you think one of your guests needs medical help, please think carefully about how you advise them to access the right care for them.
- If they are looking for help with minor illnesses or injuries, use trusted resources like the NHSGGC website, the NHS inform website, or NHS 24 Online app.
- Pharmacies, GP practices, dentists and opticians can provide expert advice and treatment for many common conditions.
- If it’s urgent or you’re unsure, call NHS 24 on 111 for guidance on the best place to get care. To access care at the Vale of Leven, you should always call 111.
- And remember, if you think the condition is very urgent or life-threatening you should always call 999 or attend A&E.
At the Vale of Leven MIU, we can treat:
- Wounds (cuts, grazes)
- Bites (insect and animal)
- Minor burns and scalds
- Limb injuries (muscle, joint, broken bones)
- Sprains and strains
- Minor head and facial injuries
- Minor eye injuries
- Minor chest injuries
- Minor back injuries
- Foreign bodies in ears, nose, eye, skin
What we can’t treat:
- Babies under one year old with any condition – they should always be taken to A&E at the Royal Hospital for Children
- Illness or chronic problems
- Breathing difficulties
- Stomach pains
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Fever
- Rashes
- Poisoning
- Dental problems
- Allergic reactions
- Major injuries
- Overdoses
- Alcohol related problems
- Mental health problems
- Gynaecological or pregnancy problems
What do I do if a baby is under one year old?
The Vale of Leven is not the correct place to go. A baby under one year old needs specialist care.
They should always be taken to A&E at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. In an emergency call 999.
If a child is aged between one and 16 and has a minor injury?
If a child needs treatment for one of the following, they can be treated at the Vale of Leven. Call NHS 24 on 111 to access the right care in the right place.
- Wounds (cuts, grazes)
- Bites (insect, animal)
- Minor burns and scalds
- Limb injuries (muscle, joint, broken bones)
- Sprains and strains
- Minor head and facial injuries
- Minor eye injuries
- Minor chest injuries
- Minor back injuries
- Foreign bodies in ears, nose, eye, skin
If a child has an illness, what should we do?
Your local pharmacy offers treatment for a range of minor illnesses and injuries. Alternatively call NHS 24 on 111 to access the right care, or attend A&E at the Royal Hospital for Children or Royal Alexandra Hospital.
In an emergency call 999.
What do we mean by illness?
- Chronic problems
- Infections (eg. Ear, urine)
- Breathing difficulties
- Stomach pains
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Fever
- Rashes
- Poisoning
- Allergic reactions
- Gynaecological problems
- Overdoses
- Alcohol related problems
- Mental health problems
- Pregnancy problems
For more about how to access the care you need, go to: Right Care, Right Place – NHSGGC
For more about symptoms and self-care, go to NHS Inform: Symptoms and self-help | NHS inform.
Alternatively, download the NHS 24 Online app: NHS 24 Online app | NHS 24
