THE number of people using Chard Hospital’s minor injuries unit has fallen ‘dramatically’, according to one of the service’s key consultants.

The inpatient beds were controversially shut at the start of the month and now those involved in running the MIU fear people now believe the whole hospital has closed.

Mike Paynter, consultant nurse for the minor injuries service, has said that in fact it is business as usual for Chard Hospital’s other departments.

He said: “Chard Hospital has temporarily lost its inpatient beds over the last two weeks, and there has been a notable decrease in people using our minor injuries unit.

“There is certainly a perception that the whole thing has closed. The MIU of Chard is fully open and functioning.

“The numbers of people using it has dramatically gone down. I was there the other week and members of staff told me they have noticed a drastic decrease over the last two weeks.

“We really want to address that perception. The inpatient beds have closed but for the other facilities it is business as usual.”

The news came as Somerset’s health services announced they are well prepared for winter, along with advice to help the public to help themselves.

The first is making sure vulnerable groups such as children, elderly, those with diabetes, and pregnant women, have their flu jab.

This is something which target groups are advised to have annually but people expecting to spend the festive period with members of those vulnerable groups should also get the jab.

The other two focus points are for people to ensure they are stocked up on necessary medication, and knowing which facility is best to deal with their injuries or illnesses.

Mr Paynter said: “It is really important patients with heart attacks, strokes and major issues call 999 as opposed to just turning up in the back of a car with a heart attack.

“Clearly there is not the infrastructure of an intensive care unit, but certainly those walking injured or wounded should be using their local minor injuries unit.

“People recognise A &E as a national brand but don’t fully appreciate what Somerset’s MIUs can do.

“The term minor injuries unit is actually a bit of a misnomer. It is an illness service as well as an injury service. A lot of people don’t appreciate that.”

Across Somerset, more people are being encouraged to use their local MIU as hospitals and GPs continue to feel the pressure.

Last year, more than 105,000 people used Somerset’s MIUs and 97 per cent of patients had their case fully managed at the hospital.

Mr Paynter added: “If those services weren’t there then all those people would be displaced into hospitals or GP surgeries which, as we know, are already under a lot of pressure. There is no restriction on patients that can use our service, no upper or lower age limit.”