Minor Injuries Unit

If you have an injury that needs urgent or immediate attention, you should call 111 to make an appointment with an expert in one of NHS Lothian’s Minor Injury Units.

The MIU team can help adults and children over 12 months who have a recent minor injury of up to 7 days, including:

• strains and sprains
• wounds and minor burns
• minor bumps to head and face
• simple eye injuries
• insect bites and stings

Depending on the nature of your injury, you will be given an appointment for a face- to-face consultation with one of the team or in some cases, you may be given a video call. You might also be directed to another care service, such as your local pharmacy, that might be able to help more quickly and closer to home.

If you are given an appointment for a video consultation you will be sent a link to open at the time of your appointment which connects you to a member of the healthcare team. To work you will need a reliable internet connection and a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam.  If you do not have video technology, but need to be seen, you will be given a face-to-face appointment.

A Face-to-face consultation will be scheduled in advance to prevent long waits when you attend.

An Emergency Nurse Practitioner or Physiotherapy Practitioner will assess your injury, provide advice and treatment within a matter of minutes. A lot of minor injuries can be treated from the comfort of your home or with the help of a local pharmacy.

Our minor injury units are open seven days a week every day of the year at the sites listed below. Please note that if you arrive without arranging an appointment via 111 you may be asked to come back later.

You can also call NHS 24 on 111 free any time day or night if:

• you think you need A&E but it is not life threatening
• are too ill to wait for your GP or dentist to open
• need urgent mental health advice and guidance