NHS East Lancashire CCG invites expressions of interest from all suitably qualified organisations and consortia for the provision of a Nurse Led Minor Injuries Service in Rossendale, East Lancashire.

The Nurse Led Minor Injuries Service will offer an alternative choice for patients (where appropriate) to attend the Minor Injuries Unit rather than the A&E Department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, or Urgent Care currently available to Rossendale patients. Furthermore the service will aim to provide a comprehensive, community based service for all patients with a minor injury regardless of cause, with access to appropriate treatment nearer to their homes, hence avoiding hospital treatments and improving the patient's quality of life.

The service will provide the highest quality treatment, advisory and support service to patients with a minor injury. Specifically the Minor Injuries Unit based at Rossendale Primary Health Care will provide a walk in facility for patients with minor injuries such as:-

— Sprain / Ligament injury / Fracture

— Tendon / Muscle Injury / Dislocation

— Laceration

— Bites / Stings

— Head Injury / Whiplash

— Burns / Scalds

— Contusion / abrasion

— Foreign Bodies

— Eye Conditions

— Facio-maxillary conditions

— Soft tissue inflation

— Vascular injury

The service will be open for a 12 hour period from 08.00am – 8.00pm, 7 days a week, including bank holidays. The unit is currently staffed on a rota basis with Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Health Care Assistants and Reception Staff.

Objectives of the service:-

— To provide extremely quick access to care for people suffering with a minor injury

— To free up resource in Accident and Emergency to concentrate on patients with more serious and life threatening conditions

Key outcomes identified:-

— To improve access to Minor Injury Services in Rossendale

— All patients receive an initial assessment within 15 minutes

— Increased efficiency of resources and a reduction in duplication

— Development of local key performance indicators

The Service Provider will work with the Commissioner in order to promote the treatment of Minor Injuries and be able to advise patients who attend inappropriately. The successful provider will be required to sign the NHS Standard Contract for the service, accepting all terms and conditions. It is intended that the service will operate from 1.7.2014 for a period of 3 years with the possibility of extending the term beyond the initial contracted duration by mutual agreement with the Service Provider.