THE threatened minor injuries unit at the town's Princess of Wales Community Hospital could see its service extended instead of being closed.

Dave McGrath, chairman of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Community Health Council (CHC), made the announcement at a CHC meeting last Wednesday night. The minor injuries service could now be extended until 7pm, he told the meeting. The unit is currently open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

A special steering group has been set up to try and find a way forward for the town minor injuries unit, which remains highly underused.

Mr McGrath said: "We've been to two meetings of the steering group and the brainstorming sessions have been very positive. Lots of ideas have been thrown around and we're trying to find a way forward.

Interesting

"It was interesting to see the usage figures for the minor injuries unit, and the sharp drop in use when the Garringtons factory closed," he added.

The steering group discussed ten possible options for the unit, including moving a GPs surgery up to the Stourbridge Road site.

Kath Tedstone, vice-chairman of the CHC, said: "I am very pleased to be able to discuss the minor injuries unit and the hospital as a whole on the steering group. I think we are making good progress."

The steering group meetings will continue past their end date of June because more subjects need to be discussed.

by Kate Hughes