Fenland minor injury units to close to allow staff to help fight coronavirus

Wisbech and Doddington Minor Injury Units (MIUs) staff are set to play a vital role in the response to COVID-19 in the coming weeks.

The healthcare system across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is working together to create additional space to care for local people during the COVID-19 outbreak, whether they are affected by COVID-19 or require other healthcare services.

Clinical staff are also being brought together to deliver care to our local community in the most effective way possible.

As of Monday April 6, Wisbech and Doddington Minor Injury Units (MIUs) will both temporarily close to the public, to enable the experienced staff to be redeployed to provide vital additional capacity elsewhere in the local community.

Jan Thomas, Accountable Officer at NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Temporary changes to these Minor Injury Units will play an important role in the care we continue to provide for members of our community who need extra support, but do not require hospital care.

“The dedicated staff who work there will be able to use their skills and expertise to support the pressing health needs of our local communities during this unprecedented time.

“Over recent weeks we have also seen far lower numbers of patients attending our Minor Injury Units in Fenland, thanks to people following self-care advice at home and due to increased social distancing. This reduced demand means that we have the capacity to better use our resources in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”

For anyone requiring emergency medical care, the A&E departments at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Peterborough City Hospital or Hinchingbrooke Hospital are available. The Ely MIU is still open at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely and you are also able to call NHS 111 or your local GP practice for advice. Please don’t turn up at your GP practice, but call first for advice and are open to support patients, or for minor illnesses we would recommend local people visit NHS 111 online or call their local GP.

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