STAFF shortages have led to three minor injury units (MIUs) in Somerset reducing their opening hours for the next six months.

There have been "a number of frequent, short notice and unplanned closures" of MIUs in Burnham-on-Sea, Chard and Shepton Mallet due to "ongoing workforce shortages", according to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Restricting hours at the three units will ensure "a safe and consistent service".

Dr Matthew Hayman, the trust's deputy chief medical officer, said: “Over the past few weeks, we have experienced increasing difficulties in staffing our MIUs which has led to frequent, unplanned changes to opening times in some areas.

“A combination of staff sickness, relocation, retirement, maternity leave and taking up jobs elsewhere in the NHS means that 10 of our 30 posts for the most senior clinicians - emergency nurse practitioners - within our MIUs, have been vacant since the end of September - which has an impact on our ability to provide safe services without consolidating our teams and restricting the opening hours at some units.

“We want to make sure that we can provide a consistent and safe service for patients and their families.

"We have therefore consolidated our workforce and taken the difficult decision to temporarily restrict the opening hours of some units so that we can run all of them safely.

“This means that we are reducing the MIU operating hours at Burnham-on-Sea, Shepton Mallet and Chard community hospitals for an interim period of six months."

The revised opening hours are:

  • Burnham-on-Sea: Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm;
  • Chard: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 8am-9pm;
  • Shepton Mallet: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8am-4pm.

MIUs at Bridgwater, Minehead, Frome and Glastonbury will be open as normal, 8am–9pm, seven days a week.

Bernie Marden, chief medical officer at NHS Somerset, said: “We recognise that any changes of health and care provision can cause concern and appreciate that the amended opening hours across the MIUs in Burnham, Chard and Shepton may have an impact on some patients.

“It is vital that healthcare services in our communities not only have safe and appropriate staffing levels but also can provide consistent access to ensure patients can be cared for and treated accordingly.

"The adjustment to the opening times of these MIUs ensures that this is the case. Ensuring that the provision of this service can continue in the most appropriate way for patients."

He added: "For people with minor illnesses, including hay fever, coughs and colds, skin infections as well as aches and pains, they can speak to their local pharmacist or use our NHS Somerset GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service, which offers patients a same-day appointment for over 40 minor conditions at a community pharmacist of their choice, when they are offered an appointment for this service by their surgery.

“And for those needing out of hours support and advice, people should continue to contact 111 either online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling NHS 111 which helps to ensure people get the right medical advice or treatment more quickly. If needed, they will be able to arrange for individuals to be seen safely by the service that best meets their healthcare needs.”