Reduced hours at 3 Somerset MIUs
Minor Injury Units (MIUs) at Burnham-on-Sea, Chard and Shepton Mallet are to face reduced opening times. A spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust that runs them blamed staff shortages. The MIUs have apparently “been affected by a number of frequent, short notice and unplanned closures due to ongoing workforce shortages.“
In response the Trust management has made the decision to consolidate teams and restrict opening hours. This is, they say, to ensure a safe and consistent service can be maintained.
Dr Matthew Hayman, deputy chief medical officer at Somerset FT, explains: “A combination of staff sickness, relocation, retirement, maternity leave and taking up jobs elsewhere in the NHS means that 10 of our 30 posts for the most senior clinicians (emergency nurse practitioners) within our MIUs, have been vacant since the end of September – which has an impact on our ability to provide safe services without consolidating our teams and restricting the opening hours at some units.”
The reduction in hours at the three MIUs will last initially for 6 months. All the other MIUs at Bridgwater, Frome, Minehead and Glastonbury are planned to operate as normal, 7 days week between 8am and 9pm.
Revised opening hours
- Burnham-on-Sea will now open Monday – Friday between 10am – 6pm (no
weekend service). - Chard will open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday between
8am and 9pm (closing on Wednesdays and Fridays when there is no X-ray
service) - Shepton Mallet will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8am and
4pm (closing on Tuesday, Thursday and at the weekend)