Minor injuries unit remains closed due to staffing

The temporary closure of a minor injuries unit has been extended due to a shortage of specialist clinicians.

The minor injuries unit in Newquay Hospital was initially closed on the 21 August and had been set to re-open on the 27 August.

It did re-open for the bank holiday weekend but Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust announced it had "taken the difficult decision to extend the temporary closure" throughout September.

A spokesperson for the trust said it did not currently have enough specialist clinicians to provide "a safe, reliable service".

The trust said in recent months vacancies and sickness had resulted in changes to the opening hours at short notice.

The spokesperson said the trust was actively recruiting specialist staff and a new clinical lead was due to join the team.

"These are important steps in strengthening the service and supporting a phased reopening as soon as it is safe to do so," they said.

They apologised for the extended closure and said the trust remained committed to reopening the service as soon as it was "safe and sustainable to do so".

The unit would re-open on 5 October on reduced days, and at times when the unit was busiest to induct new staff and conduct further recruitment, they added.

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