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Welcome to the Minor Injuries Unit at Herts and Essex Hospital.
We offer an alternative to A&E for patients with minor injuries between the hours of 9am to 4:30 pm (excluding bank holidays).
This is a ‘walk-in’ service that can be used by both adults and children over two years old. You do not have to be registered with a G.P to receive treatment.
We also offer video consultations by appointment only. Please call the unit on 01279 827450. Leave a message on the answer machine and our reception team will get back to you.
Our aim is to see you as soon as possible but if several patients arrive at the same time, then a longer waiting time is inevitable.
If the unit reaches capacity, you may be asked to come back the next day or be directed to an alternative service.
We can treat a variety of conditions such as:
- Minor head injuries
- Sports injuries (sprains and strains)
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Cuts and grazes
- Removal of foreign bodies e.g splinters
- Minor burns and scalds
- Neck stain from low-speed road traffic collisions
- Wound infections
- Bites and stings
Contact the service
Tel:01279 827450 (this is a direct line to the unit) Please call this number and leave a message if you would like to book a video consultation, otherwise please attend the unit between 9am and 4.30pm.
- Reception phone number: 01279 827450
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
How the service is provided
Our minor injuries unit can treat a wide variety of problems including:
- Minor impact injuries
- Sports injuries
- Dressings and stitches
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Penetrating foreign bodies
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Abscesses
- Bites and stings
Conditions that minor injury units cannot treat include:
- Chest pain
- Minor illness (coughs, rashes, colds, ear and throat infections)
- Respiratory problems
- Abdominal pain
- Gynaecological problems
- Pregnancy problems
- Drug overdose
- Alcohol related problems
- Mental health problems and health conditions that would normally be treated by your GP or hospital
Please be aware that although there is an x-ray department at the Herts and Essex Hospital, the MIU team are not able to request the following x-rays due to radiation regulations:
- Head, face, neck and throat
- Chest, ribs and back pelvis, hip and back (spine)
Who is eligible for the service
The service is available to everyone. However, please note the unit is not equipped to treat children under two years of age.
What will happen at your appointment
We aim to rapidly assess all patients by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner on arrival. You will then be asked to book in and wait or be directed to a more appropriate service e.g a pharmacist or G.P.
Waiting times are displayed on the information screens.
There are no doctors at the unit, however, you will be seen by an experienced nurse or paramedic trained in dealing with minor injuries.
Useful information
Making a referral
There is no need for a referral to attend our minor injuries unit.If you are unsure your problem is appropriate, then please call us on 01279 827450
Patient experience
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service; please complete our survey with your feedback.
