The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) in Totnes, which closed due to a shortage of staff at the beginning of the pandemic, is set to open again on Monday, 11 July in time for the busy summer.
Initially the MIU will be open 5 days a week from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday but it is planned to open 7 days a week from August. X-ray facility will be limited to all day Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, people will be advised to book via 111 if they think they need this service in advance to ensure X-ray is available. X-ray continues to be available 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm at Newton Abbot Urgent Treatment Centre.
John Harrison Chief Operating Officer for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust who run Totnes MIU said:
“We are really pleased to be able to reopen Totnes MIU from Monday, 11 July 2022.
“We recognise that the temporary closure of both Totnes and Dawlish MIUs in March 2020 has caused some concern for local people. The temporary closures were made due to staffing challenges which were exacerbated by the demands of the pandemic. We have worked hard to recruit and train staff during this time and we are now able to reopen Totnes MIU. Initially Totnes MIU will be open 5 days a week, Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. From August we aim to open the MIU 7 days a week.
“We have recruited further staff and following an intensive training programme of up to 12 months they will have the skills required for an MIU. This does mean that we are unable to reopen the MIU at the moment but aim to have it up and running within 12 months when the team are fully skilled. In the meantime, we are looking at interim options to support local people better. As a key part of this we are working with the local GP practice to see what can be done to provide urgent minor injuries care in the area.”
The decision to staff and reopen Totnes MIU first was taken based on data of previous use of both MIUs which show that historically Totnes MIU cares for and treats more people than Dawlish MIU even in the summer months.
People in the Dawlish and Teignmouth areas continue to have access to the Newton Abbot Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) which is nine miles away. The UTC is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm with X-ray from 9am to 5pm.
