MINOR injury units in Ross-on-Wye and Leominster are to have their opening hours cut.

Wye Valley NHS Trust says the move will help strengthen Hereford County Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

A recent MIU review found that members of staff at the units - which will now only open 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday - have to leave wards and work alone or in pairs when treating patients during the night, putting them at risk.

“For the vast majority of the 8,000 visits we can expect at the two MIUs this year it will be ‘business as normal’,” said Peter Wilson, medical director at Wye Valley NHS Trust.

Ross unit currently sees an average of 24 people each month, while just a dozen people visit the Leominster unit in that time.

MIU’s usually treat sprains, strains and broken bones as well as minor burns, scalds and insect bites.

Signs alerting people to the changes have been placed at both sites.