DID you know you can get minor injuries treated by fully trained nurses at two community hospitals on the Fylde?

That's the message Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust wants to put across .

The service, which has been running for more than 20 years, enables people to get faster treatment for minor injuries and at the same time relieve pressure on Blackpool's Accident and Emergency department.

Yet despite the offer of good quality local care it is one NHS service which is under-used.

Fully qualified nurses working between the hours of nine and five at Fleetwood and Lytham Hospitals can deal with sprains, stings, minor burns and lacerations which need medical attention. And they are happy to give advice on head injuries and other injuries and ailments.

Sister Brenda Whittaker, of the Fleetwood minor injuries unit, said: "These hospitals make an excellent first port of call for injuries. If we feel patients need an x-ray or stitches or further medical care we will send them to their GP or to the A and E department at Victoria Hospital. "The advantage of coming here first is that it's friendly and local and it's convenient if transport is a problem. People can simply walk in and be assessed immediately without an appointment or a long wait."

Norah Garland, sister at Lytham Hospital outpatients, said: "We can give advice on hand and wrist injuries, remove foreign bodies, deal with dog bites, eye infections and arrange for a tetanus if necessary.

"If I do have to refer someone on to the Vic I can ring the department to see how long the wait is so that the patient can go home and arrange child care or make sure the dog is fed before they go.

"We can also arrange for an X-ray to be taken here which they can take with them to speed up the process. If stitches are needed I can organise that with a GP who is available here every day at certain times."