A new injury unit has opened at Naas General Hospital.
Patients with minor injuries such as broken bones, sprains, burns, wounds and minor head injuries can attend the walk-in facility located in Vista Primary Care from today.
The service is for those aged 16 years and older from Co Kildare and Co Wicklow. It will initially open every day over a 6-week period from 10am until 8pm.
The HSE is urging people to avail of care options such as injury units nationwide to alleviate pressure on Emergency Departments (ED).
It said the average time to be seen and discharged in an injury unit is under two hours.
Patients using this public service can expect to pay a fee of €75, compared with a €100 fee to attend an ED.
There is no charge for patients who have a Medical Card or who have a referral letter from their General Practice, KDoc or from the ED.
Hospital Manager Naas General Hospital Kieran McDonald said: "We are delighted with this pilot service development and extension to our hospital services and more importantly for our patients presenting with minor injuries who previously found themselves waiting for longer periods of time in the Emergency Department."
"The new injury unit is a walk-in service with no referral necessary and full diagnostics are available on site," he added.
Head of Primary Care HSE Dublin South Kildare West Wicklow Community Healthcare (DSKWWCH) Brian Kearney said injury units "significantly ease pressures" on a hospital's ED.
"The opening of this new injury unit in Naas means that patients will receive the right care at the right place, at the right time," Mr Kearney said.
"It will work to support the existing and extensive general practice services in Naas and the surrounding area meaning that GPs will have an additional referral pathway for their patients which will provide care faster than if they were to attend a busy emergency department," he added.
