BRIDGWATER Community Hospital's Minor Injury Unit closed early last week, and a lack of context left many locals feeling confused and worried for the future of the local health centre.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 10, a sign on the unit's door read: "The Minor Injury Unit has had to close early today.

"Your nearest A&E is Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton TA1 5DA.

"Alternatively, you can ring the Out of Hours Doctors Service on 111."

A spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust explained that the early closure was due to 'staff sickness'.

Hannah Coleman, service manager for community urgent care at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our same day urgent care services are very busy, but we are doing our very best to ensure that services are there when people need them, although sometimes these opening hours are affected at short notice by staff sickness or additional demand, which may lead to us closing an urgent treatment centre (UTC) or minor injuries unit (MIU) early.

“On Wednesday 10 April we unfortunately needed to close our UTC at Bridgwater Community Hospital early (5pm) due to staff sickness.

“Over the last month, we have seen an extremely high level of demand on our urgent care services and our advice for people who need medical advice or treatment on the occasions that any of our urgent treatment centres or minor injuries unit are closed, is to visit the NHS 111 website (111.nhs.uk), call 111 or visit a nearby UTC or MIU.

“Our UTCs and MIU can treat a wide range of conditions including broken bones, throat and chest infections, eye infections, urinary infections, emergency contraception, sprains and strains, as well as wounds and bites.”