Minor injury units to close today (From Wiltshire Times)

Minor injury units to close today

9:00am Sunday 30th September 2007 in News By Craig Evry

FIVE minor injury units in Wiltshire will close today.

The units run by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, include those at Melksham, Warminster and Eastleigh Surgery in Westbury.

Minor injury units will now be provided at Trowbridge Hospital, which will open 24 hours a day, and at Chippenham Hospital, where the hours are being cut to 7am-1am seven days a week. Other units are available in surrounding counties.

Julie Brown, matron for urgent care at the PCT, said leaflets and posters telling members of the public where to find the remaining MIUs and what to do in an emergency had been sent out last week to GP surgeries, pharmacies, schools and major businesses in the county.

Mrs Brown said: "They state very clearly what can be treated at the new-look MIUs.

"It is important for people who have sustained an injury to come to the minor injuries unit, but if life is in danger then you must phone 999."

Roger Davey, senior steward for Unison in Wiltshire, said: "We are disappointed at the closure of the MIUs, it's a backward step. There is no clinical rationale."