PATIENTS visiting one of the four minor injury units in Worcestershire had to wait only about 15 minutes to be treated.

Waiting times at the units in Malvern and Evesham in April were an average of just 16 minutes, while visitors to Tenbury only found themselves waiting 14 minutes.

Waiting times were slightly higher in Bromsgrove, at an average of 17 minutes.

These times are significantly shorter than at county’s two accident and emergency departments at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital, where some are left to wait more than four hours for treatment.

The figures have been released as NHS organisations in the county have been encouraging people to visit minor injury units rather than go to A&E, which has come under significant pressures in recent months.

The units, which are run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, can provide a range of non-urgent medical advice and treatment for injuries such as broken bones, minor burns, cuts, grazes, wounds, sprains and strains.

The unit at Malvern Community Hospital in Worcester Road is open from 9am until 9pm seven days a week, with a x-ray service from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday.

The minor injuries unit at Evesham Community Hospital in Waterside is open from 8am until 11pm Monday to Friday, while the c-ray operates from 9am until 12.30pm and 1.30pm until 4.30pm.

Bromsgrove’s unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Stourbridge Road is open from 8am until 8pm Monday to Friday, with x-ray services running from 9am until 5pm. The unit is also open from midday to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

Tenbury’s unit is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, as is Kidderminster Hospital, which also runs a minor injury unit.

For more information call NHS 111.