Enter and view: Camborne Redruth Community Hospital - Minor Injuries Unit

This is an Enter and View report by Healthwatch Cornwall. Healthwatch representatives visited the Camborne Redruth Community Hospital – Minor Injuries Unit.

Key findings following the visit included:

• Lack of signage to the MIU is causing confusion for patients
• Limited parking and poor public transport access are making it difficult for patients to reach the MIU. Nearby bus stops are located too far from the hospital, requiring patients, many of whom may have mobility issues, to walk uphill to the entrance.
• Self-referrals to the MIU due to lack of GP appointments.
• Overcrowding & insufficient space for the volume of patients seen daily.
• Poor working conditions, including inadequate staff facilities and hygiene concerns.
• Lack of security & support for staff in high-risk areas like triage.
• Potential delays in appropriate referrals (e.g., breast lumps).
• Recruitment issues. Despite receiving 40 applications for a receptionist role, no appointment had been made.
• Supply shortages – essential medical supplies frequently fail to arrive.
• Outdated IT systems – staff operate across multiple systems, leading to inefficiencies.
• Evening resource strain – no HCA after 20:00 leaving highly trained doctors and practitioners taking on additional routine tests.

There are recommendations in this report:

• Improve signage throughout the hospital to clearly direct patients to the Minor Injuries 
  Unit
• Conduct a thorough carpark assessment, exploring alternative staff parking arrangements during ongoing hospital works. If not already in progress, engage with the local council and other stakeholders to identify available land that could provide temporary or long-term parking solutions.
• If not already initiated, engage with the council to explore the possibility of adjusting bus routes to include a stop at the hospital, better serving the needs of the community.
• Strengthen communication with patients and across departments. Clearly outlining what the service provides and who it is intended to help. Regularly update wait times online to reflect real-time conditions and display this information on screens in the waiting area and at reception, along with updates on any delays or service changes.
• Explore the possibility of remote triage to reduce onsite congestion and better manage patient flow for staff.
• Improve staff working conditions, focusing on tidiness, cleanliness, maintenance, and providing appropriate facilities to work in and take breaks.
• Strengthen referral pathways to GPs, particularly for urgent concerns such as breast lumps, and consider integrating a red flag system to prioritise and expedite access via GP triage.
• Implement a streamlined screening process to accelerate staff recruitment.
• Resolve procurement challenges to ensure consistent access to essential medical and 
  operational supplies.
• Establish a formal referral and walk-in policy for after 6pm to support the evening shift and manage after-hours patient flow effectively.

There are no follow up actions in this report. The provider has responded.