A SPECIAL meeting has been called to discuss the potential closure of the minor injuries unit at a Bromsgrove hospital.

Fears have been growing that the unit, at the Stourbridge Road Princess of Wales Community hospital, could close for financial reasons.

Health chiefs have said that the unit is safe but concerned members of the district council's health and leisure scrutiny committee have decided not to wait until their next meeting to discuss the issue. Next Monday's meeting has just one item on the agenda - the possible closure of the minor injuries unit.

The committee features members from across the political spectrum.

A representative from the Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Kath Tedstone, vice-chairman of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Community Health Council (CHC), will be at the meeting.

Councillor June Griffiths (Con-Alvechurch) said: "There will be cross-party opposition to the potential closure of the minor injuries unit."

The unit is currently open eight hours a day Monday to Friday.

Graham Vickery, chairman of the Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT, says there is only one hour a day work per staff member at the unit and the service is underused.

However in a letter to Bromsgrove District Council, he has denied that the unit will close.

"This Primary Care Trust has no unresolved deficit and has announced its three year local delivery plan at its last Public Board Meeting. These contain no proposals about the minor injuries unit."

The NHS has a duty to consult the committee on any proposed substantial changes to local health services.