Union leaders have this week attacked NHS managers over the continuing cuts to opening hours at Burnham-On-Sea Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit.
The unit at Burnham War Memorial Hospital in Love lane is usually open from 10am until 6pm with the last patient admitted at 5.30pm.
However, Somerset’s NHS Foundation Trust says that ongoing ‘staff shortages’ have resulted in two months of closures and restricted opening hours at the unit, which are continuing this week.
Dave Chapple, a veteran trade unionist who oversees the Somerset arm of the TUC, said this week: “Somerset people, and in this case Burnham and Highbridge area people, must be sick and tired of different NHS managers using the excuse that they cannot get enough staff to keep a unit fully open.”
“Even if demonstrably true, why do all these NHS Trusts that are up and down the UK suffering staff recruitment problems not combine and form a joined up and powerful protest to the Government that improving the pay and conditions of all NHS Staff must become top of their political agendas right now.”
But a spokesman for Somerset’s NHS Foundation Trust told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are experiencing increasing difficulties in staffing our minor injury units (MIUs) and have to take the difficult decision to restrict the opening hours of some units when we cannot run them safely.”
“MIUs that have been affected in recent weeks are those at Burnham-On-Sea, Minehead and Shepton Mallet community hospitals.”
“We know that it is a disappointment and concern to local communities when we need to restrict opening hours on safety grounds and we are doing all we can to keep our normal opening times unaltered.”
“This includes working very hard to attract permanent staff and seek short term and agency staff to cover shifts. Many of our colleagues are also volunteering to work extra shifts, or working in a clinical role, to keep services open.”
“When we do need to restrict the opening hours of some units, we notify our NHS partners so that patients who seek advice are given up to date information, and post information on our website. Anyone who is not sure where to go should ring NHS 111 for help and advice, this is accessible 24/7.”
