What are urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units?
Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injuries Units offer safe, timely care for people who need urgent medical help that is not an emergency.
They are staffed by experienced nurses and clinicians and are designed to treat common injuries and illnesses quickly and locally.
You will usually be seen on the same day.
Is this the right service for me?
Use an urgent treatment centre or minor injuries unit if you need help quickly for a non-life-threatening problem, such as:
- A very painful injury that is not severe
- A minor burn, cut, or infection
- A sudden illness that cannot wait for a GP appointment
- A suspected break or fracture
- Minor eye or skin problems
If you are unsure where to go, contact NHS 111. They can assess your symptoms and, if appropriate, book you an appointment.
When should I use another service?
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if someone has:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Signs of stroke
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Serious injury
Contact your GP or pharmacist for:
- Routine appointments
- Long-term conditions
- Repeat prescriptions
- Minor illnesses
Using the right service helps you get care faster and keeps emergency services available for people who need them most.
What urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units can treat
These services usually treat adults and children aged two years and over.
If you are unsure, call NHS 111 who will help decide if you need to be seen by a healthcare professional.
If you arrive at an urgent treatment centre and your condition needs a different level of care, staff will arrange for you to be seen by the most appropriate NHS service.
How to access urgent treatment
How you access urgent care may vary by location.
Some services:
- Allow walk-in access
- Ask you to contact NHS 111 first
- Offer booked appointments through NHS 111
If you attend A&E with a condition that can be treated safely elsewhere, you may be redirected.
Contacting NHS 111 first can often reduce waiting times.
Clacton Urgent Treatment Centre
- Access: Walk-in, with NHS 111 recommended
- Patients are assessed on arrival and treated or redirected
- Opening times:
- 8am to 8pm, seven days a week
- Address:
Clacton and District
Tower Road
Clacton-on-Sea
Essex
CO15 1LH
Colchester Urgent Treatment Centre
- Location: Front of the A&E department
- Patients are clinically assessed on arrival
- Contacting NHS 111 first may reduce waiting times
- Provides same-day care for urgent injuries and illnesses.
- Opening times:
- 7am to midnight, seven days a week
- Address:
Colchester Hospital
Turner Road
Colchester
Essex
CO4 5JL
Harlow Urgent Treatment Centre
- Access: Via NHS 111 or GP referral
- Appointments are arranged following assessment
- Some patients may be redirected from A&E
- Patients with minor injuries may be assessed in A&E before being redirected
- Located in Building 6, Gibberd Ward
- Opening times:
- 8am to 10pm, seven days a week
- Address:
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Hamstel Road
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1QX
Orsett Minor Injuries Unit
- Access: Walk-in
- This is a minor injuries service only
- Phone number:
- 0300 300 1527
- Opening times:
- 10am to 7.30pm, Monday to Sunday
- Closures:
- From 6.30pm on the last Thursday of each month. Christmas Day and Boxing Day
- Address:
Orsett Hospital
Rowley Road
Orsett
Essex
RM16 3EU