TAVISTOCK’S minor injuries unit will be closed for up to three months due to staff shortages, hospital bosses confirmed today (Wednesday).

The minor injuries unit (MIU), based at Tavistock Hospital, has been closed for a number of individual days recently, including Monday and Tuesday this week (August 5 and 6) and previously on July 19, 22 and 24, as a result of unplanned absences, but after University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust requested the temporary closure of the unit for three months because of staff shortages that could not be solved in the ‘short term’, the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) reviewed the temporary closure request and made a formal decision to approve it yesterday (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, while closed, patients in need of the service are being directed to the Cumberland Centre in Plymouth, the MIU in Kingsbridge or the NHS 111 advice line.

A statement from the trust said: ‘We are sorry to announce that we are being forced to temporarily close Tavistock MIU until Tuesday, November 5. This is due to staffing shortages that we cannot overcome in the short term.’

In a joint statement, Caroline Dawe, care group manager for medicine at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, and Jo Turl, director of commissioning at Devon CCG, said: ‘Following a period of operating at reduced hours, it has become harder to keep the unit open due to the small team being affected by unplanned absence.’

They added the decision for temporary closure was on the basis of an assessment of patient safety due to staffing levels and had been ‘carefully considered’.

‘There are well publicised shortages in nursing recruitment and workforce right across the NHS,’ the statement continued. ‘This is a key theme of the national NHS Long Term Plan published earlier this year.

‘Indeed, here in Devon, 1 in 10 nursing posts are vacant. This is one reason we are keen to hear from local people about how we can deal with the challenges impacting our health and care system locally.’

Mayor of Tavistock Anne Johnson said: ‘The temporary closure of the Tavistock MIU is a matter of grave concern to residents of the town and the surrounding area and the town council is seeking early assurance from service providers as to the long term future of this essential part of our community health service.’

Concerned resident Sarah Hackel said: ‘Local residents will have to travel to Devonport to be seen. This unit [Tavistock] sees up to two dozen people a day. Over the summer this figure could be higher with the influx of tourists we get in the town.

‘It seems wrong to me to expect people to travel such a distance for help and raises the question whether it will lead to a permanent closure.

‘As a family we have used the facility and found it both efficient and quick.

‘A couple of years ago I scratched my leg gardening. It was over a bank holiday weekend so I went to minor injuries at Tavistock Hospital.

‘I was told the wound had developed cellulitis and I was prescribed antibiotics.

‘Had I not been seen there, it would have got much more serious and could have even necessitated hospital admission so I was very grateful for their help.

‘By keeping the unit open it might take a bit of pressure off GP surgeries here which are already overstretched.

‘What, I wonder, can be done to reverse this decision? No one seems to have been consulted over the issue.’

During any closure, patients who would normally use Tavistock Minor Injuries Unit are being advised to use the Cumberland Centre in Plymouth or call NHS 111.

The closure only affects the minor injuries unit at Tavistock, the rest of Tavistock Hospital will remain open as usual.

If anyone has any queries, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01752 439884.

Anyone who would like to add their views to the long term plan for health and care in Devon can do so by visiting www.devonstp.org.uk/get-involved/better-for-you-better-for-devon/