Our day starts at 8am with routine checks of emergency equipment and controlled drugs; although, it’s not unusual for people to be waiting for us to open.

This morning, we’ve treated a patient who has struggled since the weekend when she “went over” on her ankle on a wet bank. She sustained a stable fracture and, after fitting a support boot, she was referred on to the virtual fracture clinic for further assessment.

We’ve also seen a head injury from an overzealous rugby match at a local school!

Today’s steady start is a huge contrast to the hectic summer months. August is our busiest month – last year we saw 1,768 patients. We certainly felt the strain!

This afternoon, we’ve seen several ankle injuries and, utilising the adjoining x-ray department which will see patients who arrive in the unit before 4.30pm, helps to confirm our clinical examinations. The x-ray department is available Mondays through Fridays (excluding bank holidays).

Our shifts vary enormously on a day to day basis and emergency cases frequently present to minor injuries. We attempt to treat and stabilise patients before transferring them to higher levels of care by ambulance.

The unit closes at 10pm and although we aren’t required to, we’ll often stay on to complete patients’ treatment.