Case Study

Swansea Bay UHB Minor Injuries Unit Improves Antimicrobial Guideline Access and Reduces Out-of-Hours Calls with Eolas Medical

The Minor Injuries Unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, part of Swansea Bay University Health Board, adopted Eolas Medical to provide staff with easier access to antimicrobial guidelines and clinical resources — reducing reliance on out-of-hours microbiologist and pharmacist calls.

Background

Neath Port Talbot Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit operates as part of Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB), serving patients with a wide range of acute but non-life-threatening presentations. Although classified as a minor injuries department, staff frequently encounter cases requiring access to broader clinical guidance, including antimicrobial prescribing information.

The Challenge

The primary challenge was raising awareness of Eolas Medical amongst all staff and encouraging consistent use of the platform. Many team members had not previously used the app, meaning adoption required a deliberate effort to change established habits around how clinicians accessed clinical information. Before Eolas, staff seeking antimicrobial guidance often needed to contact the on-call microbiologist or pharmacist directly, adding delays and interruptions.

Implementation

The unit lead had prior experience using Eolas Medical from a previous role, which helped guide the implementation. Staff were advised to download the Eolas icon to their laptops and desktops for ease of access, and were also encouraged to explore resources shared by other UHB spaces. Within the first month of use, the team began to recognise the benefits, although building consistent usage habits remained an ongoing effort.

Key Outcomes

The most significant impact has been on antimicrobial guideline access. Staff now mostly access the antimicrobial guidelines and BNF through Eolas Medical, rather than contacting the on-call microbiologist or pharmacist for advice. This shift has improved the efficiency of prescribing decisions whilst reducing unnecessary interruptions to specialist colleagues.

Ease of use was the most frequently cited positive aspect of the platform. Staff have also expressed growing interest in accessing more resources through Eolas, including guidance for more complex presentations beyond the typical minor injuries scope, suggesting that the platform’s value is being increasingly recognised.

Testimonial

“I have used Eolas app for the past few years. I find it a useful, easy app to use. However, it’s only as useful and resourceful as the information inputted, so it has to be something that is updated frequently in order to gain the most from it.”