VHI to set up minor-injury units

The VHI is to establish a new minor-injury service where fee-paying patients could receive many forms of emergency treatments within an hour "in a comfortable private setting", as an alternative to queueing in a public hospital accident and emergency department.

The State-owned private health-insurance company has told the Department of Health that more than 60 per cent of patients who present at hospital A&E departments could be treated in a minor-injury unit (MIU).

The VHI is currently examining a number of sites in Dublin as a location for the first unit. The service would be operated in partnership with private medical group The Well, which is based at the Beacon Clinic in Dublin.

In a submission on the project to the Department of Health, the VHI said that with patients now waiting eight hours on average to be seen in A&E departments, there was market demand "for a premium service that will fast-track waiting times in A&E".

"A business opportunity exists for VHI to open Ireland's first private MIU with the key proposition of significantly reduced waiting times (our aim is to treat patients within one hour) in a comfortable private setting. There is also the potential to market this service to the Department of Health and Children as a means to alleviating some pressure in the public A&E service," the company wrote.

A VHI spokeswoman confirmed last night that the company was looking at establishing a minor-injury service.

It is understood that The Well group would assist the VHI in managing the medical aspects of the service.

MIUs would deal with a large number of medical conditions such as soft tissue trauma and injuries, fractures and dislocations, chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections and some skin conditions. There would also be a paediatric service.

In its proposals to Minister for Health Mary Harney, the VHI indicated that the patients would be charged on the basis of the service they required. The VHI told Ms Harney's department that minor injury units were common in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US.

The company's submission states that the centre would be open daily from 7am to 10pm.

Under the proposal no appointment would be required to attend the centre. Patients presenting would be assessed by a doctor, undergo any relevant diagnostic test such as X-ray or ECG and have a procedure carried out if necessary.

The submission says a small number of patients who could not be treated would be transferred to hospital or a full-scale A&E facility.

"It is worth emphasising that the centre will have advanced diagnostic and resuscitation equipment, enabling the unit to both establish a firm diagnosis and provide appropriate emergency/stabilisation treatment for patients," it states.

"This is clearly an advance on current GP services. As a result, it is not envisaged that any patient following review in the unit would be asked to join the end of the queue in the public A&E."