Journal of public health medicine
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This study aimed to examine the extent to which patients make appropriate use of Accident and Emergency and Minor Injury Unit services. The outcomes used included the proportion of Minor Injury Unit patients referred to an Accident and Emergency department, comparison between the proportions admitted from patients attending Minor Injury Units and Accident and Emergency departments directly, and the diagnoses and lengths of stay of those requiring admissions from Minor Injury Units. ⋯ The results support the view that patients choose appropriately between attending a Minor Injury Unit or an Accident and Emergency department. However, there was evidence that the availability of an intermediate tier of health care for minor injuries appears likely to result in increased overall workload. This small-scale study leaves unanswered questions in terms of clinical outcomes and the quality of care provided by different facilities.