Meeting to discuss potential changes to minor injury services in Beccles

The proposal comes in the light of draft national guidance, which says that all minor injuries units (MIUs) and GP-led health centres should be renamed urgent care centres (UCC) and will be required to meet a set of minimum standards. These include opening for 16 hours a day and having an x-ray machine, which Beccles does not.

The CCG's governing body will consider proposals to provide a weekday minor injury service on the Beccles Hospital site, potentially at Beccles Medical Centre, rather than from the current MIU, which is within the hospital building. At weekends and bank holidays, patients would be able to get advice and support from the 111 service, as well as onward referral for face to face consultations to the out-of-hours clinic at Beccles Hospital wherever appropriate.

If the governing body agrees, local people will be given the chance to share their views on the proposals during a three-week engagement exercise which will start on Friday and run until October 21.

The feedback will then be discussed at the CCG's next meeting in October, when a final decision will be made.

Andy Evans, chief executive of the CCG, said: 'We recognise how important the minor injuries service is to local people, and are committed to ensuring patients can continue to access the care they need locally.

'The proposal won't mean a major change for our patients, who will still receive a minor injuries service from the same site. If our governing body agrees, we will be asking people how this change would affect them over the coming few weeks so that we can take their views into account when a final decision is made.

'It is important to stress that Beccles Hospital will continue to function as normal, once the current refurbishment works are complete. The phlebotomy service will also remain available at Beccles Hospital, although it will be run by a different provider.'