Whitchurch hospital unit faces staff shortages

A minor injuries unit in Shropshire is to close at weekends and evenings because of staff shortages.

Community health managers said the nurses staffing the unit in Whitchurch were needed to relieve pressure in the main hospital wards.

They said the closure, from Thursday, would be temporary and estimated about 20 people a week would be affected.

The unit, which treats non life-threatening conditions will remain open 09:00 to 17:00 week days.

Caron Morton, from the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said it was committed to keeping a minor injuries unit in Whitchurch, which is designed to take pressure off accident and emergency services in Shrewsbury.

The community health trust advised patients with life-threatening injuries to call 999 or contact the out of hours GP service Shropdoc if they have less severe conditions.