THE Gloucestershire Primary care Trust (PCT) has announced that the minor injury unit at Lydney and District Hospital is to stop its 24-hour services.

The service will now operate from 8am to 11pm, 7 days a week.

"The change from a 24 hour service is to ensure that safe services remain the top priority," says the PCT.

"We want to make sure that minor injury and illness services continue to be provided from the two community hospital sites in the Forest of Dean, but we believe it is the right time to introduce a change to opening hours at Lydney.

"Due to the difficulties we have faced in recruiting qualified nurse practitioners to provide this service we cannot guarantee consistent staffing levels during the night time hours."

Across the Forest of Dean, an average of one to two patients access Minor Injury and Illness Services overnight, says the PCT.

"This change is broadly in line with other community hospital minor injury and illness units opening hours in the county, including Dilke Memorial Hospital," it states.

Out-of-hours services will continue to be available to local people who need to access healthcare overnight. The service can be accessed by calling the 'hub' Tel: 08454 220 220 (between 6.30pm and 8am).

The chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire, Jan Stubbings, said: "We want to make sure that residents of the Forest of Dean continue to have timely access to the full range of health services, but we need to make practical decisions that will result in services being provided in the most effective way.

"There is recognition that based on safety and staffing considerations it is sensible to take this step.

"We recognise the value that local people place on their community hospitals and that is why we are continuing to work with local GPs and other partners to expand the range of services, such as outpatient clinics, to ensure that they continue to play a key role at the heart of the community."