Sudden closure of town’s minor injury unit
'It is about time that the Midland Partnership did something about recruiting and training more staff'
Leek’s Moorlands Hospital’s minor injury unit closed suddenly yesterday Tuesday, March 22.
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), which runs the hospital in leek, Staffordshire, blamed the closure on staff shortages.
The unit has received criticism during the last few months after several people were turned away without receiving any treatment, including a young woman who suffered a deep animal bite and a four-year-old who had cut his hand. They were told they were dealing with booked appointments and they should go to their GP, the Haywood Hospital in Burslem, or ring 111.
In January a patient sustained a head injury and a broken wrist, while another patient was not medically assessed and both were turned away. They both arrived before 5pm, one at 4.40pm and the other a little bit later.
Campaigners have also been fighting to get the unit open to its original hours of 8am to 8pm. At the present time it is in operation between 9am and 5pm.
In a statement the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is with great regret, that Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust announces the temporary suspension of services at the Minor Injuries Unit based at Leek Moorlands Hospital.
“Due to the number of staff who are off work due to Covid-19, MPFT has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the services offered by the Leek Minor Injuries Unit and this decision will be reviewed on Monday, March 28.
“The decision will take immediate effect, which means the MIU will be closed on Tuesday.
“Residents of the Moorlands are asked to attend the walk-in centre at the Haywood Hospital.”
Neil Carr, chief executive of MPFT, said “We know this will be a huge disappointment to many who have campaigned for the restoration of the full operating hours.
“The ability to run high quality services safely with adequate staffing will always be the organisation’s priority.
“The public record and for the avoidance of doubt, I am 100 per cent committed to Leek Moorlands Hospital and its urgent care services.”
If anyone is unsure where they should go for care and treatment, please telephone NHS 111 who will be able to sign post you to the most appropriate place of care.
The sudden closure has brought more criticism over the running of the hospital.
A statement from Chris Taylor, on behalf of Leek Health Campaign Group, said “The move to close Leek’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) is unacceptable – it is an abuse of the Moorlands community. The MIU meets the needs of more than 1000 sick and injured patients a month needing urgent care. This is a vital local service – serving a 220 square mile rural area, and some distance from the urban area of Stoke-on -Trent.
“Leek is some 11 miles from the Haywood Hospital. Travel by public transport via two buses, and waiting in Leek and Hanley, or taxi at £20.00 each way - and on top of that the additional pain and suffering a protracted journey imposes – cannot be realistically proposed by the Midlands Partnership Trust (MPFT).
“ Closure must be questionable - given that figures show Leek MIU is far more intensively used per 1000 population that the Haywood Walk in centre. MPFT has acknowledged Leek plays a valuable role in taking pressure off the Haywood Centre. With pressure on nursing staff – it makes no sense to close Leek MIU when shortage could be more effectively accommodated at the Haywood Centre.
“We question the management of the urgent care services, and call on the Hospital Trust to urgently review the role of the Leek MIU and to reopen the facility next week as a priority.
“The Moorlands community deserves better from our local health provider and health commissioner. The Moorlands community awaits an urgent response.”
County and district councillor, Charlotte Atkins, said: “The Midland Partnership cannot be trusted to give the people of Leek the NHS services we need. They say one thing and do the opposite.
“They have used the excuse of Covid and staff shortages for closing or reducing the hours of the MIU for two years now.
“We know that there are staff shortages within the NHS because of Government underfunding. But why is it always Leek that bears the brunt of the staff shortfall. It is clearly a matter of priorities - Leek does not matter to MPFT and is just not on their radar.
“It is about time that the Midland Partnership did something about recruiting and training more staff so that our vital MIU facility is restored to its two shift opening hours of 8am to 8pm.”
