COUNCILLOR David Parsons informed a packed Bude Community Network Panel on Tuesday evening (April 9) that the Stratton Minor Injuries Unit would not be reopened at night until October — at the earliest.

Although the practice has been been able to employ three nurses for the unit, the people gathered at the meeting were told that they all need to be trained to a certain standard, which will take at least six months.

In acknowledgement of strength and of the numbers in the audience, discussions on the MIU were extended from the original 10 minute allocation to 45 minutes.

In December, the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust reduced the opening hours of the unit from 8am to 10pm, citing staffing problems as well as a lack of use throughout the night.

Cllr Parsons addressed those present at the recent meeting as he has been the one dealing with the various NHS services on the matter.

Cllr Parsons described how he had been engaging the services over the MIU situation, and commented on the previous ‘lamentable’ state of communications from health officials.

He also focused on the present alternatives to overnight services at Stratton, and attempts to improve the 111 service, so that callers could access a doctor. If those calling could not get to anywhere else, or the doctor could not get to them, then they could direct them to Stratton Hospital and treat them there.

Cllr Parsons said: “If you’re worried about something urgent dial 999. If you’re not quite sure then I’d advise to dial 111. Now the service has incorporated doctors access, who can advise you and immediately organise a 999 call-out if needed.”

He continued: “You can get advice at anytime. If it’s not a 999 call but you’re unsure if you need attention, it’s a great service to use.”

However, nearing the end of the meeting, when questions opened up to the attending audience, there was much comment and personal claims about the previous poor performance of the 111 service, (and the poor response times of ambulances) and the overall feeling was that this was far short of a 24-hour MIU service.

Bill Pearson of Week St Mary said: “I used the 111 service and ended up in hospital. After some time and me explaining what was wrong, after over an hour I was facilitated an ambulance.”

His overall point was about communication. He explained: “Getting communication across to the nurse or responser is key, it would be a very good service if you can communicate effectively, but if you don’t wires can get crossed.”

Cllr Parsons replied: “I think this is an issue with 111 and would be a point to bring up at the next network panel meeting.”

During the meeting Cllr Parsons kept referring to the issue not being through a lack of funding, but through a shortage of people trained in the relevant professions. He said: “There is a shortage of nurses and doctors in the country. I think one third of GP’s are approaching retirement.

“This is a country-wide problem and it’s something that we need to work on.”

Cllr Parsons also made clear that the League of Friends of Stratton Hospital were in support of the unit and would be able to provide most equipment requested, however they were unable to support the training of practitioners.

One option, suggested by Cllr Parsons was that an unused bay in Stratton hospital has some spare beds, that could be used in replacement of the MIU. He said: “Getting to the bay will be crucial.

“There has been a lot of new diagnostic equipment, there are now kits available to do things like blood tests, that now comes in a suitcase and is doable in a small room, like Stratton.”

There has also been talks of a permanent Skype link to a doctor, meaning patients and nurses can instantly be in contact with a doctor if there isn’t one on site.

Cllr Parsons explained that the current MIU has a flaw in that it has no access to the hospital and that ‘people were stuck in one room’.

The alternative suggestion (using the hospital bay) from Cllr Parsons would enable nurses to have more support from the staff in attendance there.

It was also heard that the practice had all but recruited a fully qualified nurse that would have been the perfect candidate for the role, however Cllr Parsons explained that she took a tour around the facility and said ‘she wouldn’t be able to work in the conditions’ and declined the job offer.

One member of the public Mr Nick Swan explained that him and his family have used all aspects of the NHS, Barnstaple hospital, Exeter, 999 and also Stratton’s MIU. His daughter has leukaemia and his son suffers from respiratory problems.

He said: “If we had any problems we would take our children to the MIU in Stratton, all we are interested in is the expert service that’s on offer there.”

He continued: “Given our family history, if this service was to close for good we would have to consider where we live.

“I work in IT and on the technical side of things, those ‘kits’ you refer to don’t normally work with younger children.”

Cllr Parson responded to the comments by asking Mr Swan: “This would be a great point to make at the next meeting when hopefully all of the services will be in attendance.”

Indigo Haynes, a young member of the audience asked the panel a question towards the end of the meeting: “You mention there are not enough doctors or trained nurses. Why don’t you give them an incentive to come down here to work?”

Cllr Parsons replied: “It’s not just a local issue, unfortunately it’s nationwide.

“Some doctors like being busy in ER units and some prefer being a relaxed GP.

“As for nurses, I know someone who recently qualified as a nurse and before applying for any jobs she had already received 14 offers. It’s a shameful situation.”

According to the councillor, Bude-Stratton Town Council would like to get more information about the reason for the closure and present it to the members of the NHS Foundation Trust. In the emergency meeting held on February 14 this year Dr Anderson, director of primary care at the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, stated that most of the people using the overnight service were using it in the wrong capacity and could’ve waited till morning or should’ve dialled 999.

She also said: “Last year 9,436 people attended the unit, only 600 came between 10pm and 8am and on 102 nights no-one attended.”

Cllr Parsons said: “We want to know exactly what these people were treated for and how many of the 600 were using the service in the wrong way.

“We need to build as much evidence as possible to present to them.”

Bude-Stratton Town Councillor Julia Bryson asked: “Will this evidence-based data be verified?”

Cllr Parsons replied: “Yes. I’m interrogating all the data all the time.”

It was proposed that the next Bude Community Network Panel Meeting on Monday, July 8 should be entirely devoted to Stratton MIU and key officials from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust should be invited in order to answer public questions and discuss solutions to this ongoing situation.