The minor injuries unit in Dawlish Community Hospital has been closed since March 2020, but it looks as if it may reopen soon, with a spokeperson saying that they were 'hopeful' it would reopen in October this year.

The reasons given for its closure were staff shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dawlish Nub News contacted the relevant NHS trust to enquire about its future.

In response, a spokesperson for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said: "Unfortunately, we had to temporarily close our two Minor Injuries Units at Dawlish and Totnes in March 2020 due to staffing levels and the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains our ambition to re-open them once we can safely do so.

"We have been actively recruiting the Advanced Practitioners who are needed to staff the units, however, this continues to be a challenge. These Advanced Practitioner roles are so beneficial that they are now being used across wider healthcare services, thus creating a highly competitive market.

"We continue to work closely with our commissioners, GPs and all other healthcare providers to create the best possible urgent care response for our people.

"Unfortunately, we cannot confirm an exact reopening date for Dawlish Minor Injuries Unit at this moment but we are actively doing all that is possible to support its reopening. We are hopeful that it will reopen in October 2021."

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