Urgent medical care will be available at a Fenland minor injuries unit from Monday

Doddington Minor Injury Unit (MIU) is set to reopen on Monday (21) almost 15 months after it closed due to the pandemic.

The service, which was temporarily closed last April to enable staff to be redeployed in response to Covid-19, will reopen seven days a week to offer treatment and advice for illness and injuries that need attention urgently, but are not critical or life threatening.

Dr Gary Howsam, chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We’re delighted to be able to now reopen Doddington MIU. The NHS has been working incredibly hard to restart services that were temporarily closed or paused during the continued response to COVID-19. We would like to thank all of their staff for their hard work and dedication to cover different roles during this difficult time.

“Opening hours will remain the same with no appointment required. If you are unsure what service is right for you, please call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk. Here your symptoms will be accessed, and you’ll be directed to the right service for your illness or injury. This enables us to not only ensure you receive the right care at the right time, but that our vital emergency services are prioritised for those who need it most.”

Doddington MIU is located at Doddington Hospital and will be open from Monday to Friday 8.30am - 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 5pm. X-ray facilities will resume from June 28. Illnesses and injuries that can be treated at the MIU include:

• sprains, strains, cuts and grazes

• arm, foot and leg injuries

• bites, minor burns and scalds

• suspected fractures or broken bones (X-ray available services restarting 28 June)

• minor head injuries

• eye problems such as scratches and foreign bodies in the eye.

Erica Warner, clinical and operational manager, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the MIU, said: “We are very pleased to be welcoming local patients back through our doors. All the staff have worked so hard during the pandemic. It has been very challenging over the past year, and I cannot thank them enough for their resilience and commitment to the NHS.”

MIU staff continue to follow COVID-19 risk assessments and guidance to ensure safe and secure working, with social distancing measures in place and wearing appropriate PPE at all times.