Paulton’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) closed from Monday this week as frontline clinical staff have been redeployed to care for the rising number of patients requiring treatment for Covid-19.

Paulton’s MIU will be temporarily closed for NHS 111 appointments and will suspend other services.

The closure has been introduced on a strictly temporary basis, so that staff can be redeployed to provide care where it is needed most. They will be monitored with a view to reopening the units as soon as it is feasibly possible and safe to do so.

Patients with minor injuries should visit the NHS 111 online or

telephone service. This will provide advice on where to go for the best care for their symptoms.

Those who feel they need a GP appointment should call their local GP practice and are likely to be offered a phone or video consultation in the first instance, unless a face-to-face appointment is absolutely necessary.

No-one with Covid-19 symptoms should attend any medical setting unless explicitly directed to do by the NHS 111 service or a 999 call operator. Of course, if you feel your symptoms genuinely require emergency treatment, you should always seek help from your nearest hospital.

Tracey Cox, Chief Executive of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BSW CCGs) said: “Our Minor Injuries Units in Paulton, Chippenham and Trowbridge were temporarily closed during the first peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in April, but were opened up again

during the summer as soon as it was safely possible.

“We have taken the decision to temporarily close Paulton and Trowbridge MIUs again so our dedicated and hardworking staff can help to look after the rising number of people requiring treatment for Covid-19.

“I would once again like to assure local people that these new arrangements have been put in place as a temporary measure and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.”

Julia Clarke, Interim Managing Director of Virgin Care in Bath and North East Somerset, which runs the MIU at Paulton Hospital said: “Given the mounting pressures on our health and care system, we have taken the decision to redeploy our crucial front line clinical staff to help care for the rising number of Covid-19 patients across our area.”

The RUH also announced at the end of last week that they had taken the difficult decision to postpone some elective operations, but that they would continue to provide all cancer, high priority, emergency and trauma services. This is to allow for increasing numbers of patients with Covid-19, as well as patients with other serious conditions requiring intensive care unit support.

A spokesperson said: “Postponing such treatments is a decision we never take lightly. We know that patients will be disappointed and we will contact you with a new appointment as soon as we are able to return to normal hospital business. We will contact you if your procedure has been postponed. If you do not hear from us, please attend as planned.

“We expect pressure on the hospital to continue rising in the coming weeks and we are making plans to manage accordingly. At the same time, we are maintaining our important daily activity of outpatient appointments, either virtually or face to face.

“There are currently 116 patients receiving care for Covid-19 at the RUH, compared with 62 this time last week. This is significantly higher than at the peak in the early summer last year.”

The Council has also introduced local contact tracing which launched on Tuesday this week.

People who have been unable to be contacted by Test & Trace within 24 hours will be referred to the Council’s Public Protection team. The team will contact the person by text to notify them that they will soon receive a phone call, then three attempts will be made to contact them by phone over a 24-hour period.

Where contact is not made by phone, the Council will send a letter asking the person to contact an officer, together with a contact tracing questionnaire.

The new system will also ensure anyone who needs support from the Community Wellbeing Hub or may be eligible for the £500 self-isolation support payment are aware of the help available to them during isolation.

The local contact tracing service will run Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5 pm and from 9 am to 12.30 pm on weekends.

The Community Well-being Hub can be contacted by phoning: 0300 247 0050 (open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday), email: [email protected]. Text: 07870 868368

The Government has introduced a Test and Trace Support Payment of £500 to help people who have lost income due to the need to self-isolate.