Walk-in centres

NHS walk-in centres (WiCs) offer convenient access to a range of treatment. WiCs are managed by primary care trusts (PCTs). There are around 92 centres in England, dealing with minor illnesses and injuries.

These include:

infections and rashes,
blood pressure checkes
fractures and lacerations,
emergency contraception and advice,
stomach aches
vomitting and diarrhoea
hayfever
insect and animal bites
stitches (sutures)
dressing care
minor cuts and bruises
minor burns and strains
Stop smoking support

For more information about any of the conditions listed above visit the Health A-Z section on this site.

NHS WiCs are usually managed by a nurse and are available to everyone. Patients do not need an appointment. Most centres are open 365 days a year and outside office hours. Some newly opened centres may offer different opening hours during their first few months.

NHS WiCs treat around three million patients a year and have proved to be a successful complementary service to traditional GP and A&E services. Some NHS WiCs offer access to doctors as well as nurses. However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems.

Some WICs and minor injuries units may not treat young children. The decision lies with the WIC or minor injuries unit and is based on the capacity, resource or skill levels available. Please contact your local WIC or minor injuries unit in advance if you are not sure if you or your child can be treated there. You can look up the details for your local WIC using the Health services near you tool on this page.

Comments

3 Comments about ‘Walk-in centres ’

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

cudknot4 said on 21 April 2012

My walk in centre at Apley castle, Telford, is no longer operating as one as they have introduced an appointments system. I am registered there, and they struggle with volume. I don't blame them, just the governments past and present who have not expanded services enough to keep up with the influx of migrants etc. The NHS is chaotic if you want a hospital appointment then you have to wait even to go on the waiting list so that their figures meet government targets. This is not happening, it is all hidden now. I pray that I never fall seriously ill ever again!

DomZRoss said on 15 December 2011

Please can you update the Walk In locations

r1b1c7 said on 04 December 2011

about 18 monthsago I was stung by a fish called a weever. It left a bit of its spine in my foot so I thought a walk0-in centre would be the place to sort this. I looked up the nearest on the web and was told it was in North Mid. I went there to be told it had recently moved to Edmonton. Went to Edmonton where a nice doctor took out the spine. Job done. On this cite I now learn that the Edmonton walk-in centre, not very old, has now closed and the nearest wlak-in centre is now in North Finchley 3.3 miles and 2 bus rides from me - an hour away. Not only that but there are no walk-in centres in Enfield at all. This is just one more aspect of the NHS which is chaotic. Close a centre, move services to another one, close that and move the service miles away. All in 18 months. I know it will have been the PCT which wrought this particular chaos but will it be better when GPs are in charge. I think not. My GP surgery cannot manage itself properly let alone the rest of the rest of the NHS. In 5 years time Britain may not be as unsafe a place to be ill as the USA but it will be a lot worse than it has been in the recent past.