Trust closes Bideford Minor Injury Unit

THE Bideford Hospital Minor Injury Unit has been closed at night and the money saved will be used on rehabilitation work and out of hours community nursing. Northern Devon Healthcare Trust said the closure would be on a three-month temporary basis and th

THE Bideford Hospital Minor Injury Unit has been closed at night and the money saved will be used on rehabilitation work and out of hours community nursing.Northern Devon Healthcare Trust said the closure would be on a three-month temporary basis and the decision would be kept under constant review.Before the change, Bideford MIU was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round.But a press release issued this afternoon (Tuesday) said a review had shown that, on average, there were between three and five attendances between 11pm and 8am."As a public body, the trust has a duty to ensure that it deploys resources where they most benefit patients and demonstrate value for money," it said."As is clear from these figures, the MIU is used infrequently overnight. The trust has worked with Devon Doctors and South Western Ambulance Service to agree the following phased introduction of new opening hours:"From December 1, the MIU will be open at 7.30am and close at 10.30pm."From December 15, 2008 the MIU will open at 7.30am and close at 8.30pm"In addition, on New Year's Eve, we will operate a 24-hour walki-in centre at Bideford Community Hospital."Posters, flyers and leaflets have been placed in GP surgeries, health centres and chemists and there will be a month-long awareness campaign to ensure that the public is aware of the new opening times.Jill Smith, director of health and social care, said: "This decision will be reviewed, but it is about making the best use of our resources. We are confident patients will get a much better service from having increased nursing support in the community.