Latest news with #MIIUs
BBC News
25-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Can I still access NHS services in Gloucestershire during strike?
NHS Gloucestershire has set out changes to its services during the resident doctors strike by the British Medical Association. It says there will be substantial disruption until Medical Officer at NHS Gloucestershire, Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram said: "The five-day strike is likely to pose significant challenges to the local NHS, particularly hospital services, and we are sorry that patients might experience disruption to doctors in England are planning a walkout for five consecutive days from 25 July, over a pay dispute with the government. Will my operation go ahead? It depends. Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Friday and Wednesday should attend as usual unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise. NHS Gloucestershire says to manage staffing some appointments will need to be rearranged. There will be no disruption to patient visiting arrangements on these days. However, the local NHS Trusts are asking relatives and carers to do everything they can to work with their staff to get their loved ones home from hospital as quickly and as safely as possible, with additional support, if necessary, from local NHS community services or adult social care teams. Will A&E be open as usual? Covering Gloucestershire there will be just one Accident and Emergency department which will remain open throughout based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. People are being told to only attend or dial 999 if the condition is life threatening or serious. But Cheltenham's Emergency Department will not remain open. It has temporarily become a Minor Injury and Illness Unit:It opens daytime 08:00 BST - 20:00 on Friday Closes from 20:00 FridayEmergency Department reopens 08:00 WednesdayAlthough other community Minor Injury and Illness Units will to provide services, Dursleys MIIU is closed until 08:00 Tuesday. Will GP practices still see patients? Yes, NHS Gloucestershire says GP practices across the county will continue to provide services. Also people can get advice on their healthcare options via or by calling 111. However, people have been urged to use services responsibly with the NHS 111 service likely to see an increase in calls throughout the duration of the strike. The 111 online and the local ASAP Glos NHS website can provide information on the services provided by community pharmacies, GP surgeries, including the Gloucester Health Access Centre, Community Minor Injury and Illness Units (MIIUs) and the Emergency Department. NHS England stated the previous round of industrial action by resident doctors at the end of June last year saw 61,989 inpatient and outpatient appointments rescheduled, and 23,001 staff were absent from work due to strikes at the peak of the strikes began at the end of 2022, the cumulative total of hospital appointments rescheduled is now close to 1.5 million (1,486,258) across the doctors, previously named junior doctors, make up around half of all doctors in the NHS and have anywhere up to eight years' experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice.
The Courier
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Forfar minor injury unit facing axe in Angus centralisation plan
Forfar's minor injury and illness unit is facing closure in a shake-up of Angus-wide services. The Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre facility is one of two remaining district MIIUs. But it is now under threat after health chiefs identified a centralised Angus service at Arbroath Infirmary as their preferred option in a major service redesign. They say the new plans would bring enhanced Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services for long-term conditions, wound care and blood sampling across the district. However, the return of an MIIU to Montrose – closed in 2022 – has been ruled out. The centralisation option follows an initial round of public consultation over Angus-wide MIIU services. In February, Angus integration joint board (IJB) considered a strategic vision report on MIIU provision. It agreed to an initial round of public consultation. A survey presented four options: There were almost 2,200 responses. One of the main themes was in relation to extended opening times. Angus Health and Social Care Partnership say that over a seven-day average, 21 people a day require MIIU treatment at either Forfar or Arbroath. Most have a limb injury that is likely to need an X-ray. And on average a person goes to MIIU once every 10 years. A new survey has now been launched to gauge opinion on the preferred option. AHSCP says it will look at whether the centralised Arbroath MIIU and enhanced CTAC plan is workable and meets local needs. It rejected the idea the changes are all about saving money. 'The proposed review is clinically driven and aims to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care,' said AHSCP. 'Enhanced collaboration between minor injury and CTAC services aims to optimise the use of resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of services.' A final decision on the changes is expected to be made by Angus IJB in June.
