Publish date: 18 March 2025
Minor injuries units to be redesignated as urgent treatment centres
The Minor Injuries Units (MIU) at Berwick and Alnwick Infirmaries are to be redesignated as Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) from Tuesday, 1 April, 2025.
This is part of a national directive from NHS England to introduce more UTCs across the country and standardise where people access care.
The MIUs in Berwick and Alnwick already offer services similar to other UTCs in North Tyneside and Northumberland, and treat patients with minor injuries, illnesses and infections. There are radiology services (x-rays) located on both of the sites.
Dr Julian Coffey, head of the urgent treatment centre service at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The benefit for patients going forward is they will be able to book a planned appointment to be seen at Berwick and Alnwick urgent treatment centres via NHS 111. This means that our patients can attend a pre-arranged appointment which is more convenient and will mean people don’t have to wait very long to be seen. A walk-in service will still be available.
"While our urgent treatment centres are GP and nurse practitioner led services, technology enables our teams to connect quickly with other specialists when needed. We are constantly looking at ways to improve patient care and the new hospital in Berwick will certainly create a much improved environment to people to access care and for our staff."
The opening hours will currently remain the same on each site.
This change will also help simplify where patients should access care. UTCs are for conditions including:
- Sprains, strains and suspected broken bones
- Cuts, grazes or suspected wound infections
- Minor burns and scalds
- Ear, throat, chest and skin infections
- Insect and animal bites
- Nose injuries and suspected broken nose
People should still contact 999 for serious and life threatening conditions. While UTCs do treat minor injuries, infections and illnesses, they are not accident and emergency departments.
Those who do not require urgent care are advised to seek help from NHS 111, their GP practice or a local pharmacy.
Media contact
Cara Charlton, head of PR
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