Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) provide treatment for less serious injuries, such as sprains, cuts and grazes.
Many people go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) with minor injuries, when they could be usually treated much more quickly at a Minor Injuries Unit.
In A&E staff must give priority to serious and life-threatening conditions, so if you go there with a minor injury, you may have to wait a long time to be seen.
If your injury is not serious, it’s usually better for you to go to a Minor Injuries Unit if there’s one in your local area.
You do not need an appointment to visit a Minor Injuries Unit.
They are run by a team of highly qualified nurse practitioners who have experience and expertise in treating minor injuries.
You can visit your local Minor Injuries Unit if:
- you have a cuts, grazes and wounds
- you have a sprains, strains, muscle or joint injury
- you have a broken bones (fractures),
- you have a skin complaint – bite or sting (including human bites), unexplained rash or even severe sunburn
- you have a minor infection which needs treating
- you need emergency contraception
- you have a minor head injury
- you have a eye problems, such as minor eye infections, scratches or something that is stuck in your eye.
Conditions that Minor Injuries Units cannot treat include:
- chest pain,
- respiratory problems,
- abdominal pain,
- gynecological problems,
- pregnancy problems,
- drug overdose,
- alcohol related problems,
- mental health problems, and health conditions that would normally be treated by your GP or hospital.
Minor Injury Units are also not normally equipped to treat children under three years of age.
If you’re not sure whether your injury can be treated in a Minor Injuries Unit, telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647. They will be able to advise you, and can also tell you where your nearest Minor Injuries Unit is.
The service is linked to the GP out-of-hours service.
MIU contact telephone numbers and opening times (February 2011)
- Bideford Hospital – telephone 01237 420205 – open 07:30-20.30
- Exmouth Hospital – telephone 01395 279684 (DDI – 01395 282001) – open 24 hours
- Honiton Hospital – telephone 01404 540540 (DDI – 01404 540573) – open 7.30 – 23.00 daily
- Ilfracombe – telephone 01271 863448 – open 08:00-21:00
- Lynton – telephone 01598 753310 – open 08:00-18:00 weekdays and 11:00-16:00 weekends
- Moretonhampstead Hospital – telephone 01647 440217 – open 10:00 – 18:00
- Okehampton Hospital – telephone 01837 658008 – open 8:00 – 22:00
- Ottery St Mary Hospital – telephone 01404 816000 – open 0:800-16:00
- Sidmouth Hospital – telephone 01395 512482 – open 10:00 – 18:00
- Tiverton Hospital – telephone 01884 235400 (DDI – 01884 235440) – open 24 hours
Please ring up before you turn up – Before coming to an MIU that is open 24 hours please telephone the hospital (on the main hospital number) before turning up to check that it will be the appropriate place to be treated.
