More people have been using the county's Minor Injuries Units, which includes the unit at Malvern Community Hospital, at the start of this year helping to take the pressure off busy A&E departments. Latest figures show that attendances across the units in Malvern, Tenbury, Evesham and Bromsgrove were up 15 per cent in January 2018 when compared with the same month last year, with around 500 more people choosing to get swift treatment for their minor injuries at their local community hospital. Of the total 2,900 attendances across those MIUs in January, just under 1,000 were at the unit based at Malvern Community Hospital And over the next six weeks, Malvern hospital will be installing a new X-ray machine to ensure it can continue to provide quick diagnosis and treatment of things like sprains and fractures for patients in its Minor Injuries Unit. West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin visited the hospital to chat to matron Ann Lakin and to thank staff for their hard work throughout the year. The MP discussed the operation of the successful minor injuries unit which is open every day seeing local people and helping to take the pressure of Worcester's main accident and emergency unit. Minor Injury Units can treat things like sprains, strains, fractures, cuts, wounds and wound infections while A&E should only be for emergency or life threatening conditions. Harriett commented: "Malvern's wonderful community hospital is one of the best in the country, with great new facilities and one of the best views looking out over the hills. "It was useful to get an update from Ann Lakin and to hear the news that more people than ever are choosing to get treatment at their local MIU rather than waiting for long periods at Worcester's busy A&E unit. "I have always said that we should make more use of our community hospitals to deliver the best possible care closer to people's homes and it is plain to me that this challenge is being grasped by Ann and her team. "I took the opportunity to say a huge thank you to the staff and praise their efforts delivering the best possible care for us and our loved ones."