THERE are no plans to close down Congleton's minor injuries unit (MIU), NHS bosses insist, but its nurses will continue to plug gaps at Macclesfield's A&E.

The MIU at Congleton War Memorial Hospital is supposed to be open Monday to Friday, but over recent years it has closed on days where its nurses are required at Macclesfield Hospital.

Cllr Suzy Firkin, of Congleton Town Council, told a Cheshire East Council meeting on Thursday: "The Congleton War Memorial Hospital provides such an opportunity to provide local services in a location that is highly accessible.

"We of course recognise that the trust faces serious challenges with recruiting staff, but we have seen no evidence of any degree of creativity in filling vacancies that impact Congleton."

Both Congleton and Macclesfield hospitals are run by East Cheshire NHS Trust.

John Wilbraham, chief executive of the trust, told CEC's health and social care overview and scrutiny committee that the current plans of operation will continue so that A&E patients at Macclesfield are safe.

He said: "This is quite simple, so let me be unequivocal on this.

"Whilst I have got growing demand in our emergency department in Macclesfield, and – I say this with no pleasure – whilst I am nursing patients on a corridor because of that demand.

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"And whilst I have got a 30 per cent [nursing] vacancy rate in that area, the clinical advice I get is to put our most senior, qualified, clinical support staff into that department.

"That will mean moving the one person that would be at Congleton into the Macclesfield unit. That's the reality that I have to deal with.

"If I was fully established would that person be at the MIU? Yes they would."

The remaining nursing shortfall is filled with locum staff, which comes at a higher cost to the trust, Mr Wilbraham added.

Congleton War Memorial Hospital was recently closed while work took place at the site following a leak – but the trust insists the two issues are separate, and there is no intention to close the MIU.

However, Mr Wilbraham suggested there is a 'conversation we need to have' about minor injuries provision across the whole of Cheshire – with the county's commissioners looking to find more funding for community services in the years to come.

Clare Watson, accountable officer for Cheshire's clinical commissioning groups, added: "There are no plans to change the services at Congleton at the moment.

"Any future conversations or discussions will be with the population."

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Mr Wilbraham confirmed he would meet with Congleton Town Council to discuss the MIU and its future.