Minor injuries unit

What we are

This is a walk in service for adults and children over 1 year old.

The unit is run by experienced Emergency Nurse Practitioners and Emergency Care Practitioners. There are no doctors based in the unit.

Opening hours and access

The service is open daily from 8am to 8pm.

The unit is a walk in service and no appointment needed.

Patients are treated in priority order according to urgency: more serious looking cases are seen first.

We expect each patient to take half an hour to be assessed, treated and discharged. This means that the last booking into the unit is 7.15pm to allow some spare time in case it’s necessary.

Triage only service

When the unit is very busy or nearing closing, we may run a triage only service. During this time patients will be assessed and, if their condition isn’t urgent, may be signposted elsewhere or asked to return the next day.

On these occasions treatment isn’t offered because it can’t be completed safely in the time available.

When to use this MIU

Use the unit when you have a recent, minor injury or condition that needs prompt assessment or simple treatment, but which is not life threatening and doesn’t require complex diagnostics or specialist care.

If your condition is serious, worsening, or you’re unsure, especially if it involves chest pain, breathing problems, suspected serious fracture, head trauma, or other serious symptoms,  go directly to your nearest Accident & Emergency or call 999.

What we DO treat

We treat a wide range of minor injuries and conditions such as:

• Cuts, grazes, wounds needing dressings or stitches.
• Sprains, strains, and suspected fractures (where appropriate) to limbs.
• Minor burns and scalds.
• Minor head injuries, but only if there is no loss of consciousness or serious head trauma.
• Foreign bodies or minor injuries to eyes / ears / nose (e.g. splinters, foreign objects, minor infections).

What we DON’T treat

Because the MIU is designed only for minor, non-life threatening injuries and situations, there are many conditions that it is not equipped to handle.

If you have any of the following, you should instead contact your GP, use 111, or head to an Urgent Treatment Centre (like Crawley) or an Emergency Department / Accident & Emergency (like Redhill, Haywards Heath or Brighton):

• Serious or major injuries, for example: major fractures (especially of hips/spine), open fractures, serious head or spinal injuries.
• Injuries requiring complex diagnostics beyond basic care or imaging (e.g. x-rays of hip, spine, pelvis, chest and skull).
• Serious medical emergencies such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe allergic reactions, severe abdominal pain, loss of consciousness or sudden neurological symptoms.
• Chronic, long term, or ongoing illnesses and conditions.
• Routine or long standing follow up care, for example: post-operative wound care or review, long term wound management and ongoing chronic conditions.
• Dental problems, gynaecological or pregnancy related issues, and general illnesses normally handled by a GP.
• Mental health crises, drug or alcohol related problems and overdoses.

If you arrive at the MIU with any of the above, or if during triage your condition appears more serious, you may be redirected to the most appropriate service (GP, A&E, hospital, specialist) for your safety and in line with our capabilities.

Page updated: 23 December 2025