Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit is to remain closed after NHS Greater Manchester decided not to reopen it on a two-day-a-week basis.
Staff shortages brought on by self-isolation forced the closure of the unit last summer, only a month after it had reopened for the first time since the country locked down in March 2020.
Local MP Sir Graham Brady said in June that he had been assured that the unit would reopen once sufficient senior nurse practitioners were available.
And while Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), which runs the service in partnership with NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, made “great efforts” to reopen the unit on a two-day-a-week basis, NHS Greater Manchester said it believed that such a service would “not be appropriate due to this presenting an inconsistent offer locally”.
The unit will thereore remain closed pending a “scoping exercise of urgent care services in Trafford”.
Naomi Ledwith, Commissioning Director for Trafford at NHS Greater Manchester, said: “We recognise and understand frustrations felt by Altrincham residents and will be working with people in Trafford over the coming months to ensure that urgent care services safely meet the needs of the borough’s population, and those who use its services.
“If people are unsure where to go, we would encourage people to contact NHS 111 first for advice.”
MFT will continue to deliver outpatient and diagnostic services from Altrincham Hospital and people should attend appointments as normal.
NHS Greater Manchester said that patients with non-life and limb threatening urgent care needs should continue to use Trafford General Hospital, Wythenshawe Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary.
