Changes to opening hours at Malton MIU

A temporary reduction in opening hours at the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) in Malton is to take effect from Monday 3 December, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has confirmed.

This means the opening hours will reduce from 8am to 9:30pm, seven days a week, to 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The decision to reduce the opening hours of MIUs across the North Yorkshire and York area was made by the Board of NHS North Yorkshire and York (the Primary Care Trust) in September, along with a number of other measures to try and keep the PCTs end of year deficit to £19 million.

Clinical Commissioning Groups, who will take over responsibility from the PCT in April 2013 and will inherit a share of this deficit, have been tasked with implementing the measures in each of their localities to support the PCT's financial recovery.

Simon Cox, Accountable Officer for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, said: "Whilst I appreciate this action is unpalatable for many people, it is essential that we take action to reduce costs now in order to preserve valuable NHS services in the future. Given the urgency of the need to reduce costs, we believe this proposal will be an effective short term solution.

"We know that the MIU at Malton is accessed more frequently during the day as opposed to evenings, and that when the MIU is closed, patients can access alternative services such as the out of hours GP service or NHS Direct.

"I fully appreciate the strength of local feeling towards the MIU, but I cannot overstate the magnitude of the financial challenge.

"It's also important to say that there is no risk to jobs from the reduction in opening hours - any staff affected by the change will be redeployed into an alternative service."

Patients who require treatment of a minor injury or illness during the times that the MIU is closed should telephone their local GP Practice in order to access either their own GP or out of hours GP service, or alternatively contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice about the best treatment to access.

If the situation is more serious or potentially life threatening, patients should dial 999 to access the emergency services.

For further information contact the Communications Team for NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group on 01423 859616