Enter and View: Minor Injuries Unit at Abingdon Community Hospital

Healthwatch Oxfordshire visited the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Abingdon Community Hospital in June 2026. This visit was part of a programme of visits to a range of services within Oxfordshire. 

During this visit Healthwatch Oxfordshire spoke to 11 patients and seven members of staff.

Key findings

• Clear signage and a welcome sign made the MIU easy to find and navigate. 
• Reception staff were friendly, welcoming and provided clear guidance to patients. 
• A wide range of health, support and patient information was available throughout the unit. 
• Digital screens provided NHS information and real-time waiting time updates. 
• No translated materials or information about interpreting services were available. 
• The environment was clean, modern, well maintained and created a welcoming atmosphere. 
• A dedicated children's play area helped make the waiting experience more comfortable for families. 
• Limited seating in the waiting area meant some patients had to wait in their cars. 
• Patients praised staff for being caring, friendly and committed to delivering high-quality care. 

Recommendations

In its report, Healthwatch Oxfordshire made the following recommendations for improvements to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital:

• Review waiting area capacity to ensure there is enough seating during busy periods. 
• Improve accessibility by providing translated materials and clear information about interpreting services. 
• Make patient information leaflets more visible and ensure hearing support is clearly available. 
• Work with partners to align X-ray availability with MIU opening hours and improve communication about service availability. 
• Ensure refreshments are available and provide information about nearby food options for people facing long waits. 
• Continue to reduce waiting times and keep patients informed about delays. 
• Improve public awareness and understanding of the services available at the unit. 
• Review staffing levels to support staff wellbeing and maintain safe, high-quality patient care.

The report includes a response from Oxford Health outlining how it intends to respond to the suggested recommendations.