THE minor injuries units (MIUs) at Leominster and Ross-on-Wye will close this week so staff can cover A&E shifts at Hereford County Hospital.

Wye Valley NHS Trust confirmed this morning (Mon) that both units would close with A&E again facing major pressure on patient numbers.

As yet, the trust has not declared an "internal incident" as it did over A&E numbers at the start of the year.

But trust bosses say staff from the MIUs are needed in A&E to help cope with ongoing demand.

Trust chief executive Richard Beeken said some days A&E was seeing up to 20 per cent more patients than it would expect in March - which is customarily expected to be one of its busiest months.

A&E, said Mr Beeken, had also been hit by a number of its own staff going off sick.

The trust would, he said, look to re-open the MIUs "as soon as possible."

But already it is expected that the units will be closed for at least a month.

MIUs provide treatment for less serious injuries, such as sprains, cuts and grazes and are normally open Monday to Friday. Between them, the two MIUs regularly only see 12-13 patients a day.

The trust is already steering patients towards alternatives to the MIUs, specifically the extended hours GP hubs in Leominster, Hereford and Ross provided by Taurus Healthcare.

These hubs have scope for urgent appointments that can be accessed through the 111 service delivered by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Taurus has committed to monitoring and flexing such scope to meet demand, but it is the first time the hubs have been used in this way.

Mr Beeken admits the arrangement represents a "test of resiliance".

Graeme Cleland, Taurus Healthcare managing director, said all health providers had to "work collaboratively" when the system was under such pressure.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with the trust at this time," he said.

Other NHS services available include community pharmacies, GP surgeries, and Hereford’s Walk-in-Centre on Belmont Road, Hereford, open from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week.