HEALTH bosses are looking to close Northwich Infirmary’s minor injuries unit in the evenings for three months.

Low numbers of patients have been using the service at the Victoria Infirmary (VIN) after 5pm, prompting Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to review its opening hours.

Paul Buckley, divisional general manager for the trust’s emergency care division, said: “I would like to reassure the Northwich Guardian readers that no decisions have yet been made.

“We have experienced very low numbers of patients using the minor injuries unit after 5pm in the evening, with, on average, around two patients per hour attending after 8pm at night.

“In contrast, we have seen an increase in the numbers of patients using the emergency department at Leighton Hospital.”

Following discussion with Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT, the trust has proposed the three-month trial closure to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Health and Wellbeing Select Panel.

The proposal is that the minor injuries unit closes at 5pm and the staff that currently work after 5pm at Northwich, join the team at Leighton’s emergency department.

Mr Buckley added: “If the Overview and Scrutiny Committee approve the trial period, we would then look to review the situation again in the New Year, once outcomes have been assessed.”

Liam Byrne, from Save Our Northwich Inpatients Campaign (SONIC), which was set up when two wards at the infirmary were under threat in 2006, said: “It’s absolutely critically important that the current range of services provided to such an excellent standard at VIN are maintained.

“Although we concentrated on maintaining the inpatient unit, we have lots of people still contacting us about all the other parts of the hospital.

“We know no reason why any of these would be in danger of being transferred.”