Health authorities respond to claims Ilfracombe will lose its MIU service

NHS Devon has responded to claims the ‘last North Devon MIU’ at the Tyrrell Hospital in Ilfracombe will close by saying the next steps had not been decided and future services would be decided by a Devon wide minor injury service/urgent treatment centre review.

The Tyrrell Hospital League of Friends is staging a protest outside this Friday (July 18) at 1pm because they say they have had no answers at all from the Royal Devon NHS Trust or the Integrated Care Board (ICB) which commissions the service.

The contract for the current weekend-only MIU service at the Tyrrell is provide by private ambulance service First Care and expires on July 31 but the last day of service is Sunday, July 27.

While in theory people needing minor injury treatment can use Combe Coastal Practice Monday to Friday by calling 111, the League has said it is not a walk-in service and claimed many ended up attending A&E at North Devon District hospital.

In response to the Gazette’s story earlier today (Monday), a spokesperson for NHS Devon said: “The current weekend minor injury service at Tyrell Hospital in Ilfracombe, delivered by First Care Ambulance, is due end on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

“However, we haven’t confirmed the next steps yet with local people and the community as we are still exploring options for extending this service further for a period past July 31 and these discussions are still active.

“People in Ilfracombe and the surrounding areas are still able access the minor injury service at Combe Coastal Practice, Monday to Friday between 08.30 and 18.00. This can be accessed by contacting 111.

“Future provision of Minor Injury Services at Tyrell Hospital will form part of the wider review of Minor Injury Service/Urgent Treatment Centre provision across Devon which is currently underway.”

READ MORE - UPDATED: Campaigners claim the ‘last Minor Injuries Unit in North Devon’ will close

But Terry Elliott of the League said: “You cannot leave a community with the imminent ending of a service in less than two weeks with no communication.

“Today at Devon County Council the Adult Scrutiny Committee asked for an answer about Ilfracombe MIU from the ICB and got no response.

“We asked the trust to ask the ICB to let us know urgently what future plans are and we've heard nothing.

“We had a meeting with the ICB planned for April. They cancelled it and said they would rearrange for May but they never have despite following up from ourselves. The emails haven't even been responded to.

“We wrote a letter to the ICB in response to the situation wanting an urgent answer weeks and weeks ago. We have received no response.

“Everyone we ask including the MP is not getting answers.

“I think it's absolute disrespect and dangerous to leave a community in the dark about it's already inadequate minor injuries provision.”