Minor Injury Units

How our service can help you

Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) – Doddington, Ely, and Wisbech

The Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) at Doddington, Ely, and Wisbech provide assessment and treatment for patients with minor injuries or illnesses that do not require emergency care at an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

Please note:

MIUs are not A&E. If you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or any life-threatening symptoms, call 999 or go directly to your nearest A&E department.

What we offer

MIUs are led by highly-trained nurses and paramedic practitioners, supported by experienced healthcare assistants and administrative staff. They are qualified to assess, examine, diagnose, and treat a wide range of minor conditions.

  • No GPs or doctors are based within these units.
  • Children under 2 years old cannot be treated at the MIU and should be taken to your nearest A&E.

Capacity and waiting times

Due to the size of our team and the large area we serve, demand can vary. Wait times may be up to four hours. Please ensure you are able to wait within the department if booking in.

Safe streaming process

When the unit reaches capacity, we operate a safe streaming process to maintain the safety of both patients and staff. In this situation:

  • You will be streamed by a practitioner.
  • The practitioner will assess your needs and advise you on the next appropriate steps , which may include sign-posting to another services, overnight management and/ or advising to come back the next day

This process is in place to ensure the clinical safety of all patients and staff.

Patient-only

To reduce overcrowding and maintain a safe environment:

  • Only patients will be allowed into the unit.
  • For children, one parent or guardian may accompany them.
  • For patients with a registered carer, the carer may also accompany them.
  • All others will be asked to wait outside. If a patient requires assistance, MIU staff will support as needed.

Walk-in service

This is a walk-in service, but some appointments may be booked through NHS 111. Patients with pre-booked appointments may be seen ahead of walk-ins. The MIUs are not able to provide telephone triage, so when you call you will speak to the admin staff who will not be able to advise clinically over the phone. 

We provide services at three minor injury units which provide care and treatment for patients whose minor injuries or illness is not severe enough to go to accident and emergency. More details on other healthcare services can be found on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System website here.

 

Conditions that can be treated include:

  • Acute wounds, cuts, and bruises (no long-term or chronic wounds)
  • Wound closure (suturing/steri-strips) (MIU does not remove stitches or clips)
  • Bites – human, animal, and insect
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Muscle and joint injuries – strains, sprains, suspected limb fractures (X-rays only after clinical assessment by a practitioner and only if there has been an injury)
  • Sports injuries
  • Minor illness – first-line treatment only (not treated if you have already seen your GP for the same issue)
  • Eye injuries – minor only
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – females only, aged 16–64 years. (Urine dipsticks only if clinically indicated)

The staff are not able to treat:

  • Dental problems
  • Chest infections
  • Long-standing or chronic conditions
  • Children under 2 years old
  • Travel vaccinations or advice
  • Medical examinations or reports
  • Sick notes or school absence certificates
  • X-rays of the hip, chest, facial, ribs, or back
  • Acute abdominal pain
  • Chest pain/ dizziness or shortness of breath
  • Major trauma
  • Post-operative wound care or reviews
  • Emergency contraception
  • Mental health crisis
  • Alcohol-related issues
  • ECGs or cardiac/respiratory assessments
  • Blood pressure checks

Please note: The MIUs cannot provide repeat prescriptions.

For any symptoms that may be life-threatening or require urgent medical intervention, please call 999 or attend your local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

The MIU is a walk-in service – no appointment is necessary. Patients are generally seen in the order they arrive unless someone presents with more urgent clinical needs. In such cases, patients may be called out of turn.

Upon arrival:

  • You will be booked into MIU by the admin staff – if you require a chaperone please do ask. You will be advised of the Patient Only guidance
  • A Healthcare Assistant may carry out basic observations
  • You may be triaged by a clinician to assess the urgency of your condition.
  • If appropriate, you may be redirected to a more suitable service for your needs.

Please be aware:

  • This is a very busy service with a small team
    Wait times can be long, and you may be required to wait up to 4 hours depending on demand.
  • You will be seen as soon as possible based on clinical need.
  • Every assessment/ treatment can vary as this is an unplanned service, so we are unable to give accurate wait times or assessment times.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

We operate a Zero-Tolerance policy toward abusive, threatening, or violent behaviour. Any such behaviour towards staff or other patients will be asked to leave the unit and will be reported to the police.

No filming or photography

For the privacy and safety of all patients and staff, filming and photography are strictly prohibited within the unit. You will be asked to stop filming and delete the footage and please do not post any information on social media to protect the staff.  Please respect this policy.

Contact the service

  •  

    Doddington

    Doddington MIU

    Doddington Hospital

    Benwick Road

    PE15 0UG

    T: 01354 637078


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-5pm weekends and bank holidays (closed on Christmas Day)

    •  

    Fenland

    Ely MIU

    Princess of Wales Hospital

    Lynn Road

    Ely

    CB6 1DN
     

    T: 01353 772500


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays (closed on Christmas Day)

    •  

    Wisbech
    Wisbech MIU

    North Cambs Hospital

    Wisbech

    PE13 3AB
     

    T: 01945 468787


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday (closed at weekends and bank holidays, including Christmas Day)

    •  

    X-ray service hours


    Ely: 9am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday;
    1pm-4:45pm Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays.
     

    Doddington: 9am-4:45pm, Monday to Friday.

     

    Note: There is currently no ultrasound provision at either as part of the NWAFT service.

     

    X-ray services are proviced by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. For more details please click here.

Referral Information

  • This is a walk-in service so no appointment is necessary. Patients are generally seen in the order they arrive unless their needs are assessed as being clinically more urgent than other patients who are already waiting.

Is there access and support for patients and visitors with a disability?

  • All sites have disability parking and access.

Other essential information

  • Opening hours (no appointment) Doddington - 8.30am-6pm Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm weekends and bank holidays Ely - 8.30am - 6pm all week, including weekends and bank holidays Wisbech - 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday (closed at weekends and bank holidays X-ray service hours All sites - Monday to Friday, 9am - 4.45pm Ely - Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, 1pm - 4.45pm (No X-ray at Doddington or Wisbech at weekends) X-ray services are provided by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

Minor Injury Units

How our service can help you

Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) – Doddington, Ely, and Wisbech

The Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) at Doddington, Ely, and Wisbech provide assessment and treatment for patients with minor injuries or illnesses that do not require emergency care at an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

Please note:

MIUs are not A&E. If you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or any life-threatening symptoms, call 999 or go directly to your nearest A&E department.

What we offer

MIUs are led by highly-trained nurses and paramedic practitioners, supported by experienced healthcare assistants and administrative staff. They are qualified to assess, examine, diagnose, and treat a wide range of minor conditions.

  • No GPs or doctors are based within these units.
  • Children under 2 years old cannot be treated at the MIU and should be taken to your nearest A&E.

Capacity and waiting times

Due to the size of our team and the large area we serve, demand can vary. Wait times may be up to four hours. Please ensure you are able to wait within the department if booking in.

Safe streaming process

When the unit reaches capacity, we operate a safe streaming process to maintain the safety of both patients and staff. In this situation:

  • You will be streamed by a practitioner.
  • The practitioner will assess your needs and advise you on the next appropriate steps , which may include sign-posting to another services, overnight management and/ or advising to come back the next day

This process is in place to ensure the clinical safety of all patients and staff.

Patient-only

To reduce overcrowding and maintain a safe environment:

  • Only patients will be allowed into the unit.
  • For children, one parent or guardian may accompany them.
  • For patients with a registered carer, the carer may also accompany them.
  • All others will be asked to wait outside. If a patient requires assistance, MIU staff will support as needed.

Walk-in service

This is a walk-in service, but some appointments may be booked through NHS 111. Patients with pre-booked appointments may be seen ahead of walk-ins. The MIUs are not able to provide telephone triage, so when you call you will speak to the admin staff who will not be able to advise clinically over the phone. 

We provide services at three minor injury units which provide care and treatment for patients whose minor injuries or illness is not severe enough to go to accident and emergency. More details on other healthcare services can be found on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System website here.

 

Conditions that can be treated include:

  • Acute wounds, cuts, and bruises (no long-term or chronic wounds)
  • Wound closure (suturing/steri-strips) (MIU does not remove stitches or clips)
  • Bites – human, animal, and insect
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Muscle and joint injuries – strains, sprains, suspected limb fractures (X-rays only after clinical assessment by a practitioner and only if there has been an injury)
  • Sports injuries
  • Minor illness – first-line treatment only (not treated if you have already seen your GP for the same issue)
  • Eye injuries – minor only
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – females only, aged 16–64 years. (Urine dipsticks only if clinically indicated)

The staff are not able to treat:

  • Dental problems
  • Chest infections
  • Long-standing or chronic conditions
  • Children under 2 years old
  • Travel vaccinations or advice
  • Medical examinations or reports
  • Sick notes or school absence certificates
  • X-rays of the hip, chest, facial, ribs, or back
  • Acute abdominal pain
  • Chest pain/ dizziness or shortness of breath
  • Major trauma
  • Post-operative wound care or reviews
  • Emergency contraception
  • Mental health crisis
  • Alcohol-related issues
  • ECGs or cardiac/respiratory assessments
  • Blood pressure checks

Please note: The MIUs cannot provide repeat prescriptions.

For any symptoms that may be life-threatening or require urgent medical intervention, please call 999 or attend your local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

The MIU is a walk-in service – no appointment is necessary. Patients are generally seen in the order they arrive unless someone presents with more urgent clinical needs. In such cases, patients may be called out of turn.

Upon arrival:

  • You will be booked into MIU by the admin staff – if you require a chaperone please do ask. You will be advised of the Patient Only guidance
  • A Healthcare Assistant may carry out basic observations
  • You may be triaged by a clinician to assess the urgency of your condition.
  • If appropriate, you may be redirected to a more suitable service for your needs.

Please be aware:

  • This is a very busy service with a small team
    Wait times can be long, and you may be required to wait up to 4 hours depending on demand.
  • You will be seen as soon as possible based on clinical need.
  • Every assessment/ treatment can vary as this is an unplanned service, so we are unable to give accurate wait times or assessment times.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

We operate a Zero-Tolerance policy toward abusive, threatening, or violent behaviour. Any such behaviour towards staff or other patients will be asked to leave the unit and will be reported to the police.

No filming or photography

For the privacy and safety of all patients and staff, filming and photography are strictly prohibited within the unit. You will be asked to stop filming and delete the footage and please do not post any information on social media to protect the staff.  Please respect this policy.

Contact the service

  •  

    Doddington

    Doddington MIU

    Doddington Hospital

    Benwick Road

    PE15 0UG

    T: 01354 637078


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-5pm weekends and bank holidays (closed on Christmas Day)

    •  

    Fenland

    Ely MIU

    Princess of Wales Hospital

    Lynn Road

    Ely

    CB6 1DN
     

    T: 01353 772500


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays (closed on Christmas Day)

    •  

    Wisbech
    Wisbech MIU

    North Cambs Hospital

    Wisbech

    PE13 3AB
     

    T: 01945 468787


    Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday (closed at weekends and bank holidays, including Christmas Day)

    •  

    X-ray service hours


    Ely: 9am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday;
    1pm-4:45pm Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays.
     

    Doddington: 9am-4:45pm, Monday to Friday.

     

    Note: There is currently no ultrasound provision at either as part of the NWAFT service.

     

    X-ray services are proviced by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. For more details please click here.

Referral Information

  • This is a walk-in service so no appointment is necessary. Patients are generally seen in the order they arrive unless their needs are assessed as being clinically more urgent than other patients who are already waiting.

Is there access and support for patients and visitors with a disability?

  • All sites have disability parking and access.

Other essential information

  • Opening hours (no appointment) Doddington - 8.30am-6pm Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm weekends and bank holidays Ely - 8.30am - 6pm all week, including weekends and bank holidays Wisbech - 8.30am-6pm, Monday to Friday (closed at weekends and bank holidays X-ray service hours All sites - Monday to Friday, 9am - 4.45pm Ely - Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, 1pm - 4.45pm (No X-ray at Doddington or Wisbech at weekends) X-ray services are provided by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.
Pictured is a staff member with a headset answering a telephone call

As a patient, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

Patient Advice and Liaison service  Contact the Trust