Tenbury Community Hospital's minor injuries unit closed due to lack of nurses

The MIU at Tenbury Community Hospital, on Worcester Road in Tenbury Wells, is shut.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust confirmed this morning that the unit will not open today, Friday October 21.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "We rely on a small number of trained nurses to run the unit in Tenbury which means we sometimes have little option but to temporarily close it for short periods due to sickness or other unplanned absence.

"We try and avoid this as much as possible and do everything we can maintain a full service.

The unit is one of five across Worcestershire that treat injuries such as sprains, wounds, cuts or burns.

Patients seeking urgent advice have been told to call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.

In September, local NHS leaders reassured residents over the provision of the Tenbury MIU.

Phil Shakeshaft, the Trust's MIU lead, said that despite short-term closures, the site remains a "key part" of the wider urgent care system.

He said: “We do rely on a small number of trained nurses to run the unit in Tenbury which means we sometimes have little option but to temporarily close it for short periods due to sickness or other unplanned absence.

"We try and avoid this as much as possible and do everything we can to maintain a full service.”

Further information, including locations and opening times, can be found at http://hacw.nhs.uk/miu.