Temporary closure announced for Helston's minor injuries unit
Health bosses say it's down to staff sickness - which is not Covid related
A temporary, week-long closure has been announced for the minor injuries unit at Helston Community Hospital.
Clinicians and managers from health and care services say the decision was made after careful consideration.
The short-term closure came into effect on Wednesday 11rh August and will last until 8am on Wednesday 18th August 2021.
Health bosses say the decision has not been taken lightly and is in response to staff sickness, which is unrelated to Covid-19, at Camborne and Redruth community hospital.
They added that closing Helston, which is a smaller minor injury unit without x-ray facilities, allows them to 'protect and maintain the core minor injury sites and services' in line with the Trust’s business continuity plans.
Anita Cornelius, nurse and west area director said: “We’re very sorry to have to make this decision, however this will enable us to maintain a service at Camborne and Redruth’s minor injury unit which is the largest and busiest in the county – treating over 3,000 people last month. The unit at Camborne and Redruth is open from 8am to 10pm daily, incorporates a primary care centre and also has x-ray facilities available between 8am and 8pm every day.
“Heading into the Boardmasters Festival, our focus is placing our resources where we know we will have demand and for the period of the festival will include the minor injury units in Newquay, Camborne/Redruth, Bodmin and St Austell Hospitals.
“We encourage people to talk before they walk and anyone who needs urgent, but not emergency care, should go online or call 111 before attending a unit so the department can be notified of your arrival. 111 will direct people to the most appropriate facility for their need which could be a pharmacy, GP, or alternative minor injury unit in the area.”
Health bosses say this approach is identical to the one recently taken in Launceston MIU to maintain services across the rest of north and east Cornwall but Helston MIU has a shorter period of closure.
Other services have also been consolidated in response to an unrelenting surge in demand for health and care services.
People who need urgent but not emergency care in Cornwall are being asked to contact NHS 111.