ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the service models available in the United Kingdom for the treatment of patients with minor injuries and offers a classification system for this wide range of services. New models of care have developed in many parts of the country for patients with minor injuries. Care offered by a minor injury service differs from that provided within conventional primary care in that the aim is limited to providing acute episodic care for a predefined range of minor injuries. Nursing staff providing minor injury services often have a wide range of skills that can range from general practitioner practice nurses, to nurses with experience of working in hospital accident and emergency departments, to highly trained emergency nurse practitioners. Minor injury services delivered predominantly by nurses require a strong supportive relationship with medical colleagues in order to be able to offer a wide range of services and carry out formalised referral procedures.
