Sherborne's Minor Injuries Unit to re-open - but Portland and Blandford's remain closed
Dorset HealthCare say they're facing staffing difficulties
A phased re-opening of Dorset's Minor Injuries Units (MIU) that have been closed for the winter, will begin from this Friday (1st April).
The unit at the Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne will re-open five days a week.
But facilities at Portland and Blandford will stay shut for now.
We're told that decision is based on staffing difficulties and will be reviewed regularly, in the hope of opening them up again as quickly as possible.
Jane Elson, Dorset HealthCare’s Service Director for Integrated Community Services, said:
“Our aspiration is definitely to have all MIUs working to pre-pandemic hours and locations. However, it has been exceptionally difficult to recruit the staff we need to fill vacancies, and there remains a significant degree of COVID-related staff absences.
“We need to ensure we can provide a safe, reliable and robust service for people who need urgent care and treatment, and cannot do so across all our units if we don’t have the necessary staffing levels in place.
“However, we are able to re-open the Sherborne MIU from Sunday-Thursday and will continue to review the situation there, and at Blandford and Portland, while we strive to fill the staff vacancies.
“We are grateful for the support of our patients and partners as we seek to open all our units and encourage the public to use 111 who will often be able to provide advice over the phone or remote prescribe. If necessary, they can also book an appointment time at the nearest suitable location.”
Other Minor Injuries Units across Dorset, as well as Weymouth's Urgent Treatment Centre, will continue as normal.
Extended opening hours at Wimborne's Victoria Hospital will remain in place until the all units are reopened too.
NEW OPENING HOURS
Here's the details of when our local MIUs will be open from Friday 1st April:
- Weymouth Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre – 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday-Sunday
- Bridport Hospital – 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday-Sunday
- Swanage Hospital - 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday-Sunday
- Westminster Memorial Hospital (Shaftesbury) – 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday-Friday; 10.00am to 4.00pm, Saturday-Sunday
- Victoria Hospital (Wimborne) – 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday-Sunday
- Yeatman Hospital (Sherborne) – 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday-Thursday; 10.00am to 4.00pm, Sunday
- Blandford and Portland hospitals – closed, with patients being accommodated at Weymouth and extended hours at Wimborne where a face-to-face appointment is needed
LOCAL MP'S RESPONSE
West Dorset's MP has welcomed the news that the Yeatman Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit at Sherborne is reopening.
Chris Loder said:
“We have fought hard to see the Yeatman MIU reopen since the initial closure nearly two years ago following the initial onslaught of Covid. I am so pleased to learn this vital service will very soon be welcoming people from in and around Sherborne once more.”
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU NEED AN MIU
The advice from Dorset HealthCare is that if you have an ailment or injury that requires urgent care, please call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk in the first instance.
Staff will then assess your needs and make sure you get the best treatment at the right time, which might include booking an appointment at an MIU.
If you turn up unannounced at an MIU/UTC, you will still be assessed but could be directed elsewhere or given an appointment later that day or the next.
For anything life-threatening, always call 999 for immediate assistance.