The first walk-in centres are now up and running. They are one of a number of initiatives to improve patient access to the NHS and to make the NHS more 'user friendly'. The first opened in January and all will be operational by December this year.
Ministers have yet to decide on the possibility of a second wave of centres.
All centres must develop links and communication protocols with GP surgeries. Use of NHS Direct computer decision-support systems is a prerequisite for WICs to ensure consistency of approach. Nurses will run the majority of centres. Minor injuries only account for about 20 per cent of visits. Adults, especially women, are the main users.