STAFF shortages have forced the closure of Dawlish Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit again.

The unit, which is based at Dawlish Community Hospital, should normally open Monday to Friday but has suffered from staffing problems for months.

Uncertainty surrounds its long-term future and campaigners who battled to ensure it reopened just last year, now fear it may close for good.

Ongoing staffing ‘challenges’ have forced ‘temporary’ closures over the last six months.

This has meant many residents now believe it is unreliable.

It has been closed again this week due to staff shortages, according to Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust.

Devon NHS previously confirmed: ‘A wider review of minor injury service and urgent treatment centre provision across Devon currently underway.’

But it was also confirmed there were no plans to close Dawlish MIU permanently.

The unit, which only reopened in April last year following campaigning by Dawlish Hospital League of Friends, is used for minor injuries such as cuts, sprains and scalds.

It has been shut about a dozen times so far this year, either due to staff absence or illness.

Over the last few weeks, residents have had mixed experiences of using the unit.

One said: ‘It is theoretically still open but because of staff shortages the hours are a bit unpredictable.’

Another added: ‘The service is not reliable due to staff issues.

‘It is always a struggle for MIU staff here.

'Only a few minor jobs a day isn’t a very motivating job, so I guess people are reluctant to come here.’

While the unit is not permanently closed, the multiple temporary closures are raising concerns.

Chairman of the Friends of Dawlish Hospital, Geoff King, has said closure would be a ‘disaster’.

He understands Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust now believes there is ‘little value’ in nurse-led units such as the Dawlish MIU and the preference is for doctor-led care

He said: ‘We told the trust that there must be enough staff to cover training, sickness and holidays for the unit to be able to run

'If it is closed some days, it reduces its reliability as people won’t use it unless they can be sure it will be open.

‘It has not always been reliable.’

The hospital’s MIU had been closed for more than four years when it finally reopened in April 2024 following a concerted campaign by the Friends and a petition which was signed by hundreds of Dawlish residents.

Although currently the MIU is open Monday to Friday on an appointment basis, Mr King says this has worked well.

The appointment system is effectively a triage which means more serious cases are seen first rather than have a group of people arriving as soon as it opens.

In has been popular with patients with minor illnesses and injuries and in the first five months after it reopened, staff treated 1,300 patients.

At the time, the figures were seen as a vindication of the Friends’ campaign.

A Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: ‘The decision to temporarily close a service is not one we take lightly.

‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused and want to thank people for their support and understanding.’