A&E, Urgent Treatment Centre or Minor Injuries Unit?
Updated 16 October 2026 · 3 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
Life-threatening: call 999. Serious but not life-threatening: A&E. A sprain, a cut, a suspected simple fracture: an urgent treatment centre or minor injuries unit is often quicker. Not sure: NHS 111, online or by phone.
A&E departments in England saw 6 in 10 people within 4 hours in September 2026, against a standard of 78%. Choosing the right place gets your colleague treated sooner, and keeps A&E free for the people who need it most.
Where to take an injured colleague
- Call 999 if someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally, has chest pain, shows signs of a stroke, is bleeding heavily, is having a fit, or has a serious injury. Do not move them; an ambulance comes to them.
- A&E for serious injuries or illness that need hospital care but are not immediately life-threatening, or when you are not sure an urgent treatment centre can help.
- Urgent treatment centre or minor injuries unit for sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, injuries, cuts and bruises, and minor burns. Many urgent treatment centres can do X-rays, ECGs and blood tests.
- NHS 111, online or by phone, if you are not sure. It can direct you to the right service and may book an arrival time.
How busy is A&E near your workplace?
A&E performance varies widely, even within one city. In September 2026, Barnet Hospital in north London saw 8 in 10 people within 4 hours, while the Royal London saw 5 in 10. Choose your area below for your nearest A&E and your local ambulance times.
Emergency care near your workplace
34 min
Average ambulance wait for a stroke, heart attack or chest pain call (Category 2), London Ambulance Service. 9 in 10 within 71 minutes.
7 min
Average for life-threatening calls such as cardiac arrest (Category 1), London Ambulance Service.
Nearest A&E: University College Hospital
0.8 miles from the centre of Westminster. 7 in 10 seen within 4 hours in September 2026.
A&E, urgent treatment centres and minor injury units near Westminster on CheckWaitingTimes
NHS England figures: ambulance response times for September 2026, A&E for September 2026. Data via CheckWaitingTimes, Open Government Licence v3.0. If a life is at risk, call 999.
Most urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units do not publish live waiting times. The link in the panel lists every option near your area on CheckWaitingTimes, and its guide to choosing between A&E and an urgent treatment centre covers the detail.
Getting them there safely
- Do not let an injured person drive themselves. Arrange a lift with a colleague or a taxi, and send someone with them if you can.
- If you are unsure whether it is safe to travel, call NHS 111, or 999 if it could be life-threatening.
- Send a short note of what happened, when, and what first aid was given. It helps the clinician who sees them.
Afterwards: records and reporting
Every workplace injury should go in your accident book. Some must also be reported to HSE under RIDDOR, including specified injuries such as most fractures, and injuries that keep someone off work or off normal duties for more than seven consecutive days. Our guide to RIDDOR explains what to report and when.
If the same kind of injury keeps happening, it is time to revisit your first aid needs assessment, and to check that your first aiders know how to judge where an injury should be treated. That judgement is part of every Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work course we deliver at your workplace. Request a free quote and we will reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is an urgent treatment centre quicker than A&E?
Often, for minor injuries. Urgent treatment centres deal with sprains, strains, suspected broken bones, cuts and bruises, while A&E departments in England saw 6 in 10 people within 4 hours in September 2026. Waits at both vary by place and time of day, and the most unwell people are seen first.
What is the difference between a minor injuries unit and an urgent treatment centre?
Both treat injuries that are not life-threatening. Many urgent treatment centres can do X-rays, ECGs and blood tests. Minor injuries units vary more in what they treat and when they are open, so check before you go.
Do I need an appointment for an urgent treatment centre?
You can usually walk in, but you may be able to book an arrival time through NHS 111 online, which lets the centre know you are coming. People who are most unwell, or who have an appointment, may be seen first.
Do minor injuries units publish waiting times?
Most do not publish live waits. CheckWaitingTimes lists the urgent treatment centres and minor injury units near any area in England, and NHS 111 online can direct you to the right place.
Book first aid training at your workplace
Amber Training delivers accredited workplace first aid courses at your premises, anywhere in England. Based in London.