The South Glos Post

A new Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) has opened at the Yate West Gate Centre, offering a drop-in service for children and adults to treat a whole range of minor injuries from cuts to sprains, from bites to broken arms.

The Unit, run by NHS South Gloucestershire’s Provider Services Team, is the first dedicated MIU in South Gloucestershire which is open seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

Patients do not need to make an appointment and the new MIU will be open seven days a week: 8.30am – 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

An on-site digital X-ray facility and physiotherapy unit means that the MIU can diagnose and treat a whole range of injuries including sports injuries, falls, minor burns, broken arms and noses, cuts and sprains.

All patients are seen by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) or an Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) who have a wide experience of dealing with minor injuries and treating children.

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Source: NHS South Gloucestershire

The Leaders of the four local authorities in the West of England have unanimously agreed to take the lead in driving economic growth and securing the local economic recovery.

Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have written to the Secretaries of State for Local Government Eric Pickles, and Business, Vince Cable, to express their ‘in principle’ commitment to taking on new responsibilities, potentially in the form of one of the first ‘Local Enterprise Partnerships’ in the country.

This follows the coalition Government’s announcement about Regional Development Agencies, which they said should only remain where they are supported locally.

The letter, signed by the four Council Leaders and Stephen Harrison as Chair of the Skills & Competitiveness Board, stated:

“The West of England is the most economically competitive sub-region outside London and is a well-established partnership of four unitary councils, three Conservative and one Liberal Democrat, and their strategic partners. We believe we can make a significant contribution to the recovery through economic growth.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Merlin Housing Society is asking young people to give their views on the services it provides.

The society houses more than 16,000 people in its 8,000 properties in South Gloucestershire, a third of who are aged under 25. Now Merlin is inviting people aged 16 – 24 to a meeting at Patchway Community Centre on Monday 28th June from 12 noon – 2.30pm to hear what they think about the society’s services and the area where they live.

Community Investment Manager Verona Vidal, who has organised the event for Merlin, said: “We want the services we provide to be representative of everyone, no matter what their age. But at the moment we don’t have many young residents who get involved with us.

“We want to know what young people think about living in our neighbourhoods and what services they’d like us to provide to help improve their lives. We’ll use their views to develop our services in the future. And you don’t have to be one of our residents to come along – we want to hear the views of everyone.”

The event follows similar successful meetings Merlin has held this year with black and minority ethnic residents. Everyone who takes part in the event will receive a £20 shopping voucher. Merlin can provide free transport and childcare for anyone who wants to attend.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting should contact Verona Vidal on 01454 821500 or email verona.vidal@merlinhs.co.uk.

Source: Merlin Housing Society

Staple Hill Library will be celebrating the history and neighbourhood of Staple Hill with a special evening on Wednesday 23 June.

It was 100 years ago that Alderman AW Page presented Page Park to the Parish of Mangotsfield in perpetuity, ensuring that generations of local people can enjoy Staple Hill’s own 19 acre park. The Page Park story will be presented by Roger Angerson of the Downend Local History Society and Roger will talk about the Park from its creation a century ago up to the present day.

The evening will also include a live reading and launch of a specially commissioned audio story “The Colour of Infinity” by South Gloucestershire-based writer Pauline Masurel. The story is set in Page Park and other Staple Hill locations, and has been written and produced in conjunction with Heads and Tales, a group of writers and artists based in Bristol.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council