A STEERING group has been set up to monitor the minor injuries unit at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital, councillors heard on Monday night.

The role of the new group and the potential closure of the unit at the Stourbridge Road hospital were discussed at an emergency meeting of the district council's health and leisure scrutiny committee. Moira Morris, the chief officer of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Community Health Council (CHC), presented a letter about the steering group from the Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The aims of the group include options for the future of the minor injuries unit that are 'cost neutral'.

Cost neutral means any changes made to the service cannot cost any more than it does at the moment.

There was nobody to represent the PCT at the meeting.

Councillor John Gardner (WRRA - Drakes Cross) said: "I think we're jumping the gun. We've received assurances that they are no plans to close the minor injuries unit."

But CHC vice-chairman Kath Tedstone said: "I remember when the Alexandra Hospital opened in Redditch we were only told about it at the last minute. I don't completely trust the PCT.

"Bromsgrove has a huge and growing population and we need our minor injuries unit," she added.

Cllr June Griffiths, (Con - Alvechurch) - chairman of the committee, was appointed as the district council's representative on the steering group.

Cllr Dave McGrath (Lab - Beacon) said: "I think the steering group is a good idea. People can ask questions and demand answers."

The committee voted unanimously to write to the PCT advising the scrutiny process had begun regarding the future of the minor injuries unit on a cross-party, non-political basis.