PEOPLE in the Forest are being encouraged to use minor injury units at Lydney and Cinderford rather than travelling to Gloucester.

Minor Injuries Units (MIU) are led by emergency nurses and treat a variety of injuries and illnesses including sprains, simple fractures, burns and skin irritations such as rashes.

Mandy Hampton, Matron at Dilke Memorial Hospital and Lydney and District Hospital, said: "Our MIU team at Dilke and Lydney treat both adults and children and we want to spread the message that urgent care is available locally for minor injuries and illnesses.

"It can avoid a journey to Cheltenham or Gloucester hospitals, which may not necessarily be the right choice."

All seven MIUs run by Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust are available to anyone in the area, whether they are registered with a local GP or not, with no appointment needed."

Dr Martin Gibbs, local GP from Blakeney Surgery and member of NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Our Choose Well campaign has been highlighting the range of healthcare options available to people in their local communities and promoting the services available at Community Minor Injuries Units across the county is a key part of that.

"Through this campaign, we hope that many more people will become aware of the minor injury and illness services available at Dilke Memorial and Lydney and District Hospitals."

Patients can find out more about accessing the right services at the right time by logging on to http://www.choosewellglos.nhs.uk">www.choosewellglos.nhs.uk.

•Monmouth MP David Davies has called on Welsh health chiefs to make people more aware of cross-border agreements on the use of minor injuries units.

The units at Monmouth and Chepstow were closed by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board because of the low numbers of people using them.

But when Mr Davies and Monmouth town councillors Graham Pritchard and Terry Christopher met the health board and they were told agreements were in place to allow Welsh patients to use Gloucestershire facilities.

"We were told there are agreements in place with doctors, dentists, chemists and opticians to provide treatment to people.

Mr Davies said: "I believe we need a lot more information about this and the health board has promised to provide it."

Cllr Pritchard added: "The health board will not consider opening a unit based on the current numbers who would use it.

"There are, however, contracts now in place with units in Ross-on-Wye, Cinderford and Lydney.

"This means that anyone suffering a minor injury can go there instead of Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital or the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport."