Evaluation of a nurse-led minor injuries unit

This article, the first of two, reports the evaluation of a minor injuries clinic. The authors describe the background to the service and the methodology and results of the study. Some 20,000 patients attended the clinic during its first two years, at an average cost of 33 pounds per patient. Waiting times were low and 67 per cent of patients were discharged. Independent clinical audit rated 98 per cent of cases as satisfactorily treated. The clinic has generally been accepted by the local medical community and was funded permanently in late 1996.