The NHS minor injuries unit’s (MIU) move to Thurrock Hospital was welcomed as a positive step for people in and around Thurrock, Basildon, Brentwood following a visit to the site today (13 November).
Visitors today included Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock and patient representatives and allowed them to see the improved patient and clinical facilities. These include a much bigger and more comfortable waiting area with a designated children’s space, and specialist treatment facilities, including a purpose-built wound care room with integrated shower facilities and a dedicated plaster room.
The visitors also saw the adjacent Community Diagnostic Centre which is providing X-Ray facilities for the MIU. They also talked to staff from North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) who run the service and to representatives from NHS Essex who facilitated the move, including securing £1million of external funding.
It was great to visit the new Minor Injuries Unit at Thurrock Hospital today and see the difference our government’s investment is making for healthcare in Thurrock. The new facility provides more clinical space, additional treatment rooms and a larger waiting area, helping more people access care closer to home and reducing pressure on Basildon A&E.
Jen Craft MP for Thurrock
Staff spoke positively about the move and the improvements it is already making for both patients and those delivering care. We also spoke about parking, which is an important issue for many patients and visitors, and I will continue to monitor this.
The opening of the Minor Injuries Unit is an important first step, with plans to develop the site further into an Urgent Treatment Centre, expanding the range of services available locally and ensuring more residents can receive the care they need closer to where they live.
The shift of MIU from its smaller space in Orsett Hospital to a bigger home designed specifically for the service at the John Tallack Centre happened at the beginning of November.
The move has been positive for everyone. Our staff are thrilled to be working in this newly refurbished space that supports them to deliver more effective patient care that improves privacy, dignity and comfort for patients. And we’ve had great feedback from patients about the new facilities, including the new waiting area.
Brid Johnson, Chief Operating Officer for NELFT
Being close to the Community Diagnostic Centre is also helping us to provide a more joined-up and smoother experience for our patients and service users.
We’ve made a lot of progress in the first two weeks, and while we want to continue to improve our current minor injuries service and will be asking for patient feedback, we’re also excited by the potential to expand the service in our new space.
The relocation forms part of a wider NHS Essex programme to enhance urgent and emergency care services in the area, and this is a step towards developing an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Thurrock Community Hospital.
We’ve successfully moved the Minor Injuries Unit into a new environment designed to meet current clinical standards and support future service development. Achieving this in a short time has been a great team effort by NHS Essex, NELFT and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) who operate the Thurrock Community Hospital site.
Samantha Goldberg, Executive Director of Commercial, Resilience & Estates at NHS Essex Integrated Care Board
As well as the clinical improvements, we’ve worked to ensure adequate parking, access and signage. It’s great to have such positive initial feedback from patients and staff.
This move is more than a change of location. It is part of our five-year plan to expand urgent care services for local people. We plan to build on this move by developing the service into an Urgent Treatment Centre that will care for minor illnesses as well as minor injuries, helping more patients and diverting people from hospital emergency departments.”
The Minor Injuries Unit at Thurrock Hospital operates a walk-in service, seven days a week between 10am – 7:30pm, Monday to Sunday, with the last Thursday of the month closing at 6:30pm.
The unit treats minor injuries including:
- Wounds and cuts
- Sprains and strains
- Minor fractures
- Minor burns
- Minor eye injuries
- Bumps and bruises
The relocation forms part of a broader NHS Essex programme to enhance urgent and emergency care services. NHS Essex has stated that the new MIU is intended to be a stepping stone towards developing an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Thurrock Community Hospital.
The UTC is expected to see around 54,000 patients annually, compared with the approximately 29,000 patients currently attending the MIU, representing a substantial expansion of local urgent care provision.