Injury unit could continue in different form - NHS

There are fears that the minor injuries unit at Leek Moorlands Hospital could close

Services at a town’s minor injuries unit (MIU) could continue in a different form, health leaders have said amid fears over its future.

Officials have proposed to turn Staffordshire’s MIUs into urgent treatment centres (UTCs) as part of a plan to ease pressure on A&E services across the county.

But under current proposals, the MIU at Leek Moorlands Community Hospital would not be included in such a switch, which has sparked concern it could be slated for closure.

The NHS said that no final decisions had been made and proposals to change services would be subject to further consultation.

Dr Steve Fawcett, clinical director of urgent care at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), said he wanted to ensure people had access to services in their local area.

He told an engagement event at Haregate Community centre: “There’s a national requirement to set up UTCs but we shouldn’t get hung up about them – we should care more about the services that people need.

“We wouldn’t be allowed to call it an MIU or a walk-in centre but that doesn’t mean that services can’t continue in various ways.”

He said Leek’s primary care networks could come together to provide those services.

“At the moment, 44 patients a day visit the Leek MIU. We want those 44 patients to still be able to access the services they need locally, either at the same venue, or a different one,” he added.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for the MIU to be saved, with campaigners saying it would not be right to expect patients to travel to Stoke-on-Trent, where, under plans, the nearest urgent treatment centre would be based.

Staffordshire Moorlands residents who attended the event said it was vital that a local urgent care service was maintained.

Liz Green, from Cheddleton, said: “If they close the MIU in Leek it will just mean more people will go to A&E instead, which is the opposite of what they want."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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