Minor injury unit is reopened

UNIT HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES

- By MAXINE DENTON

A MINOR injury unit is set to reopen after its sudden closure as a result of staff shortages. Launceston Minor Injury Unit (MIU) will reopen with an initial five-day a week offering from 8am on Tuesday, September 2, after it closed its doors for the summer on July 21.

It came after Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the service, said the MIU did not have enough staff to safely provide a seven-day service this summer. While it said at the time new staff had been recruited to fill vacancies, they needed to complete mandatory training before they start in post.

The closure, which came with little warning, meant patients had to travel long distances for treatment and sparked widespread local concern. Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has now said the service will operate from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Fridays until September 12. From Sunday, September 14, the unit will then return to six-day a week opening, from 8am to 8pm, Sunday to Friday.