NHS Greater Manchester has confirmed that Altrincham Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) will not reopen, bringing an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty about the facility's future.
The unit, which has remained closed since April 2020 except for a brief one-month reopening in July 2021, was initially shut due to national shortages of emergency nurse practitioners during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Katherine Sheerin, chief commissioning officer for NHS Greater Manchester, acknowledged the decision may disappoint some residents but emphasised it was necessary to ensure urgent care services meet national standards.
"Providing the best possible care with limited resources means making tough decisions," said Sheerin. "While the MIU was once an important part of local healthcare, both the way services are delivered and what people need from them have changed."
The decision follows recommendations from the Trafford Urgent Care Review that were accepted by the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board in September 2024. According to NHS Greater Manchester, before its closure, the MIU operated with inconsistent hours and saw fewer than 50 patients per day, with 65% of those living within two miles of the hospital.
All services have been relocated to Wythenshawe Hospital, approximately three miles away, which offers a full 24/7 A&E department and a wider range of urgent care services.
NHS Greater Manchester also pointed to extended access appointments available at local GP surgeries across Trafford, offering evening and weekend appointments with healthcare professionals.
The health body stated that a comprehensive review process determined a formal public consultation was not required for the permanent closure. Officials cited NHS England guidance supporting the consolidation of services into integrated Urgent Treatment Centres that offer a wider range of care under one roof.
"To offer safer, more reliable care for everyone, services must be organised in a way that works better for the whole community, both now and in the future," Sheerin added.
The announcement has drawn criticism from local political figures. Oliver Carroll, the Conservative Party candidate for Sale and Altrincham West at last year's general election, called it "a shameful decision" that ignored residents' concerns.
"Despite my warnings in the general election and thousands of residents joining me in petitioning against it, we had hoped this would not come to pass," Carroll said. "Unfortunately, the Labour-led ICB has ignored Altrincham's residents, and our Labour MP has done nothing to stop them."
The closure had previously faced cross-party opposition, with current Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand using his maiden speech in the House of Commons to register his disapproval. Following last year's initial announcement, Rand expressed deep disappointment and revealed he had urged the board to consider upgrading the facility to an Urgent Care Centre instead.
"While I understand the huge pressures the Board faces following 14 years of Conservative failure on the NHS, I know the Minor Injuries Unit was a service that was greatly valued by my constituents," Rand stated at the time.
NHS Greater Manchester confirmed that all other services at Altrincham Hospital remain open and patients should attend their appointments as normal. The space previously occupied by the MIU was temporarily repurposed to support other NHS services, with plans now underway to determine its long-term use.
Health officials have emphasised that alongside Wythenshawe Hospital's 24/7 A&E, local GP practices offer extended access appointments, and NHS 111 remains available to guide people to appropriate care.
"We remain committed to improving services, tackling waiting times, and building a sustainable workforce to meet future demand," Sheerin concluded. "We're incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their views. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping how we move forward to provide the best possible care for Trafford and Greater Manchester."
Connor Rand, Labour MP for Altrincham and Sale West, said he had "consistently opposed" the unit's closure.
"It was greatly valued by my constituents and important in reducing pressure on local A&E departments," he said.
"I urged the Integrated Care Board not to make this decision and I voiced my opposition to closing the Unit in the first question I asked in Parliament."
He added: "My focus now is to protect existing services at Altrincham Hospital and to ensure it fully benefits from the record £22bn of investment into our NHS announced by this Government."
