Weekend closure of northern Minor Injuries Unit

The unit will still be open on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:30 Monday to Friday.

Hospital services for minor injuries in the north of the Isle of Man will be closed at the weekends for up to three months due to staff shortages, Manx Care has said.

While the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Ramsey Cottage Hospital will be open on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:30 BST, closing 30 minutes earlier than usual.

The changes will come into force from 6 July.

A Manx Care spokesman said it was "currently experiencing significant staffing challenges" that had been "affecting operational service delivery".

'Safe delivery of care'

The MIU is primarily staffed by specialist nurse practitioners trained to diagnose and treat minor injuries and illnesses.

The Manx Care spokesman said that while it was seeking to recruit staff, it had decided to close the unit at weekends, which were traditionally quieter than weekdays.

The decision would "maintain the safe delivery of care" and ensure the health and wellbeing of its own staff, he added.

Ramsey Commissioner Juan McGuinness said that while the decision was "thoroughly disappointing", the decision had been "made with the best intentions".