Minor injuries unit moves to new location

A minor injuries unit (MIU) in Essex is to move to Thurrock Community Hospital on Monday.

The new site will be located at the John Tallack Centre in Long Lane, Grays, a mile and a half away from the former site in Orsett, and will open at 10am.

Patients with a minor injury up until that point should contact NHS 111, visit their pharmacist or go to the Basildon Hospital emergency department, the Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) said.

Dr Matt Sweeting from the board told BBC Essex that the move to the new unit, which cost £1m to upgrade, "would make services better".

He said the old unit did not have enough space to see the number of patients they would like.

"We think we can see double the amount of new patients in that facility, so I am excited it's being used," Sweeting added.

Plans for relocating health services at the hospital began in 2018, with critics fearing the move would amount to a "postcode lottery".

Gary Jones CBE, former head of the A&E department at the unit in Orsett, said he hoped patient services would remain the same after the move.

"One of the main concerns is that residents don't want to see any of the current facilities in Orsett moved away from the Thurrock area," he said.

The new site includes a purpose-built wound care room with integrated shower facilities and a dedicated plaster room.

NHS Essex has also reassured people that the 251 parking spaces at Thurrock Community Hospital would be able to accommodate visitors.

From April 2027, the unit is due to expand services to include minor illnesses as well as minor injuries, with longer opening hours.

The new Urgent Treatment Centre is expected to see almost 54,000 patients a year, compared with around 29,000 patients currently using the MIU service.

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