Leek Moorlands Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) needs to "get its act together" after a string of recent temporary closures, local councillors have said.

The comments were made after the MIU was closed again yesterday (Sunday 14th August) - the latest of several temporary closures after the unit was also closed for over a year back in 2020.

Residents were informed via social media on Sunday morning by the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT): "The Minor Injuries Unit at Leek Moorlands Hospital is closed today. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.

"The walk-in centre at Haywood Hospital is open as normal. Thank you for your patience."

In response, Leek East district Cllr Pam Wood said: "Yet again we are left without our minor injury department at Leek Moorlands Hospital. Isn't it time they got their act together?"

Leek South district and county Cllr Charlotte Atkins called for better wages for nurses in the wake of the most recent closure.

She said: "The MPFT does have to get its act together but the grim reality for Leek residents is that this NHS Trust does not consider our Minor Injuries Unit to be their priority.

"The real problem is the shortage of nurses. That is because nurses have had their real pay cut over the last decade and it is due to be cut again because the Conservative Government will not allow the Public Sector Pay Review Bodies pay them a living wage.

"Many are having to use food banks to make ends meet. Do you blame them for leaving the NHS? I don't!"

And Leek North district Cllr Lyn Swindlehurst said: "The gradual insidious dismantling of public services, including health and social care is frightening. We see and hear of some of those people unable to get adequate care, unable to afford a taxi to get to the Haywood, and public transport unavailable.

"My real fear is those we don't know of, hidden behind closed doors. Those missing appointments and treatment because they simply cannot afford to get to the hospital."

We reported recently how health bosses say there's no guarantee Leek Minor Injuries Unit won't face future temporary closures, as the NHS battles staff shortages and recruitment challenges.

Bosses decided to temporarily close the unit in March 2020 due to staffing pressures and the need for the health service to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In June 2021, the unit re-opened again, albeit with reduced hours from it's previous opening hours of 8am-8pm daily.

The minor injuries has now been temporarily closed three times this year – first in March, when it was closed for two weeks due to a Covid-19 outbreak among staff, and then for one week earlier this month for the same reason, as well as for one day yesterday.

One of the recent outbreaks saw 19 out of the unit's 44 staff off work due to Covid-19.