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.

The following MIUs are run by the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (click the link for details of NDHT and the following MIUs):

• Bideford Hospital
• Exmouth Hospital
• Honiton Hospital
  
• Ilfracombe
• Lynton
• Moretonhampstead Hospital
• Okehampton Hospital
• Ottery St Mary Hospital
• Sidmouth Hospital
• Tiverton Hospital

If you would like to make a comment or complaint, or give feedback on a service run by Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust please click here.

The following MIUs are run by the Torbay CareTrust (click the link for details of TCT and the following MIUs):

• Ashburton Hospital 
• Brixham Hospital 
• Dartmouth Hospital  
• Dawlish Hospital 
• Newton Abbot Hospital 
• Paignton Hospital 
• South Hams Hospital 
• Tavistock Hospital 
• Teignmouth Hospital 
• Totnes Hospital  

If you would like to make a comment or complaint, or give feedback on a service run by Torbay Care Trust please click here. 
 

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.