Medical Matters: Choosing the right care for non-emergencies

UTCs and MIUs provide medical care and help for when somebody needs to be seen the same day for an urgent problem, which can’t wait, but is not a life-threatening emergency. They can help with many of the problems people often go to an Emergency Department for.

Choosing the right service when help is needed is so important for services across the healthcare system to manage the demands they experience.

The units can provide care and treatment for a range of minor injuries and illnesses. This includes wounds, (cuts, lacerations and grazes), burns and scalds, sprains and strains, broken bones, bites and stings, low risk head injuries and eye problems, and minor illnesses including throat, ear and eye infections.

The units are run by a team of highly qualified nurse and paramedic practitioners who have experience and expertise in treating minor injuries.

However, our services aren’t suitable for all patients. We often see people who should have contacted their GP, visited a pharmacy or self-cared at home. This includes headaches, male water infections), routine wound care and chronic disease management or longstanding illness

We would encourage patients to try and contact their GP practice in the first instance. While we are aware GPs are under enormous pressure this remains important, especially if the issue is an ongoing health problem or concern.

We unfortunately see many people needing wounds redressed. This isn’t a service our units routinely offer because it often requires specialised dressings that our units don’t stock. As part of a treatment plan, the clinician would have advised on the appropriate place to get wounds redressed. 

We don’t do x-ray for chests, backs, hips/femurs or faces, and we don’t carry out bloods for investigations. Any patient presenting with these problems may be asked to attend elsewhere.

Other conditions that we often see that should have gone straight to an ED include chest pain and heart problems, stroke symptoms, major trauma injuries, drug overdoses, gynaecology and pregnancy related problems, and severe abdominal pain.

Our unit teams don’t include emergency doctors. If we think there is a life-threatening or urgent medical condition, we may direct the patient to our ED at Torbay Hospital.

In Torbay and South Devon, we have two MIUs at Totnes and Dawlish community hospitals. Both have ‘appointment-priority’ services in place, where people can phone ahead for an arrival time, with walk-ins still supported but pre-booked people prioritised. These units have limited x-ray facilities and while we are happy to assess, we may redirect to another unit to undertake x-rays if required.

We have a UTC at Newton Abbot Community Hospital which is a more expansive service that has extended operating hours and only supports walk-in patients or those referred directly by 111.

Above: Newton Abbot Community Hospital

Please visit our website for more information on our units and what they can help with. 

If you need help but you’re not sure where to go, please call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk who can signpost you to the most appropriate service. This could be self-care, pharmacy, GP, UTC or MIU, or emergency department.

Newton Abbot Urgent Treatment Centre

Open 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week

X-ray available 9am – 5pm

Walk-in patients

Newton Abbot Community Hospital, West Golds Road, Jetty Marsh, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2SL

Totnes Minor Injuries Unit

Open 8am – 5pm, 7 days a week

X-ray available 9am – 5pm on Monday, and 9am – 1pm on Tuesday and Wednesday

Appointment-priority service. Call 01803 862622 and select option 1 for a same day arrival time

Totnes Community Hospital, Coronation Road, Totnes, TQ9 5GH

Dawlish Minor Injuries Unit

Open 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday

Appointment-priority service. Call 01626 895203 for a same day arrival time

Dawlish Community Hospital MIU, Barton Terrace, Dawlish, EX7 9DH