Record-breaking month for Haslemere Minor Injuries Unit as team sees unprecedented patient numbers | News
Record-breaking month for Haslemere Minor Injuries Unit as team sees unprecedented patient numbers
The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Haslemere Hospital, part of the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, has reached a new milestone after treating a record number of patients in a single month – all within the national four-hour target for waiting times.
In May, the unit saw an extraordinary 1,891 patients, surpassing its previous record of 1,669 patients in March of this year. This represents a 30-40% rise compared with the same period in 2024.
Haslemere Minor Injuries Unit is for adults and children over two years of age. It is run by a dedicated team of skilled Nurse Practitioners who can assess, diagnose and treat patients with minor injuries. It does not treat serious, life-threatening injuries or illness.
Charlotte Morley, Lead Emergency Practitioner at the Minor Injuries Unit, praised the dedicated team behind the achievement.
She said: “This is the highest number of patients the unit has seen in a single month since it opened 22 years ago.
“I’m incredibly proud of our teams here, not only for managing such high numbers, but for seeing every single patient within the four-hour target. It is testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication to their roles.”
Across the last financial year, the service treated 17,149 patients – and recent months have revealed several new and emerging trends in attendance including a noticeable rise in patients travelling from the Guildford area to use the service.
To meet the increasing demand and support broader community needs, plans are now underway to expand the MIU’s remit to include minor illnesses. The unit’s conversion to an Urgent Treatment Centre, set to take place later this summer, will see it join the expanding number of Urgent Treatment Centres in the region, including those at Petersfield Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital, working alongside the Woking Community Hospital’s Walk in Centre.
As an Urgent Treatment Centre, staff will be able to treat conditions such as ear and throat infections, skin complaints, rashes, high temperatures and abdominal pain.
The expansion is part of ongoing efforts to make local urgent care more accessible and to ease pressure on other NHS services, including A&E departments.