Call for action on opening hours at Minor Injuries Unit

Newquay Town Councillors are calling on the NHS in Cornwall to take "immediate action" to restore the town's Minor Injuries Unit to its full operating hours.

The motion to write to the NHS Cornwall Integrated Care Board (ICB) was proposed by the Mayor, Drew Creek, and approved by the council.

In March, the unit's opening hours were reduced as a "short-term measure." It is currently closed two days a week. In May, the NHS admitted it was still experiencing staffing challenges. At the time, a spokesperson for the ICB said newly recruited staff were undergoing clinical training, which takes 12 months.

The motion passed by town councillors acknowledges "the challenges around qualified staffing" but urges the board to take immediate action to reopen the unit fully, citing pressures on GPs and pharmacies. It also calls on the ICB Chair and Chief Executive Officer to engage directly with the Town Council as a key stakeholder on this issue.

A spokesperson from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:
“In March 2024, we amended the opening hours of Newquay Minor Injury Unit to 8am to 8pm, Fridays to Tuesdays. This temporary change was made to support our staff and ensure safe patient care. It reflects the times when the unit is busier and remains in place.

“Following a successful recruitment campaign earlier this year, new staff are undergoing the necessary clinical training. This takes 12 months to complete, when we expect the opening hours to return to normal.”

A spokesperson from NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board added:
“NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board will respond to the letter from Newquay Town Council once it has been officially received, following our usual process.”