Bridport Hospital MIU closed over the coming weekends

The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Bridport Hospital will be closed over the next three weekends (spanning 20 August to 3 September, inclusive) due to staffing pressures.

Problems with staff sickness and unfilled vacancies have forced Dorset HealthCare to temporarily shut the unit on those Saturdays and Sundays, though it will remain open as normal on weekdays.

If local people have any injuries or ailments which require urgent attention, they should visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111 in the first instance. If face-to-face treatment is required, they will be given an appointment at one of Dorset’s other MIUs.

The unit is expected to return to its regular seven-day opening hours in early September.

Jane Elson, Dorset HealthCare’s Service Director for Integrated Community Services, said:

“Our minor injury and urgent treatment service staff have been working exceptionally hard in recent months to help us maintain in-person care at our MIUs, often working additional hours and travelling across the county at short notice to help fill in for colleagues affected by COVID or other staffing issues.  We are extremely proud of the dedication and flexibility that our staff have shown.

“However, despite our best efforts, it is not possible to safely staff Bridport’s MIU over the next few weekends.

“This situation should be resolved in early September, when new staff will be joining us and other colleagues are expected to return from sick leave. For now, though, we would ask local people to bear with us and continue contacting NHS 111 if they have any injuries or ailments which require urgent attention.”

Anyone contacting 111 will be assessed, and either given expert advice or directed to an appropriate NHS point of care. Often problems can be dealt with by pharmacists or a GP.

If urgent face-to-face treatment is required during those three weekends, an appointment will be made at one of Dorset’s other units:

• Weymouth Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) – open 8am-8pm

• Swanage Hospital - 8am-8pm

• Westminster Memorial Hospital (Shaftesbury) –10am-4pm

• Victoria Hospital (Wimborne) – 8am-8pm

• Yeatman Hospital (Sherborne) – 10am-4pm (Sundays)

This will help people avoid a long wait at one of the county’s Emergency Departments.

If a person’s condition is life-threatening, call 999 without delay.