A PUBLIC consultation is underway to decide the opening hours of two Forest minor injury units.

The Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust is proposing three options: close both Lydney and the Dilke Hospitals at 8pm, take no action, or close one unit at 8pm.

Responses must be received by midnight on August 31 before a final decision is made on September 20.

The trust says it is critical for them to take action now in order to maintain the safety and quality of its Minor Injuries and Illness Units (MIIU) services.

An assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last June found ongoing challenges to fulfil the current opening hours needed addressing.

If the public chooses option one the opening hours at both Lydney and the Dilke Hospitals will change from its current times of 8am-11pm to 8am-8pm. The second option is to open either Lydney or the Dilke between 8am-8pm.

The trust says there are four reasons behind the need for the review including nurse recruitment, value for money, right place for care and recognisable opening times.

New staffing arrangements have created further challenges as the trust is finding it difficult to recruit emergency nurse prac-

titioners (ENP). Secondly figures show that the number of patients attending from 8pm onwards at both units remain relatively low, with an average of 4.43 attendances per night combined. The trust says there is sufficient capacity to handle demand in just one unit after 8pm.

The third issue the assessment identified is that 90 per cent of people attending the units between 11pm and 8am were either ‘sufficiently well’ and could visit their GP the following day, or should have gone immediately to an acute hospital. Lastly the current system prompts uncertainty among the public as to what services are available and at what times. They found, therefore, there is a need for consistency.

Other areas of the review found the performance of the county’s seven minor injury units was largely positive. The average waiting time is 21 minutes compared to the national average of less than 60 minutes.

Trust representatives will be hosting information sessions on Saturday, July 16 at Lydney Hospital fete from 2pm; The Main Place in Coleford on Monday, August 1 between 3pm and 4pm. An information bus will be stationed at Coleford Clock Tower on Thursday, August 18 between 1.30pm and 3pm.

To register your choice visit www.glos-care. nhs.uk