A PETITION with more than 8,000 signatures has been handed to Solihull Council calling for the Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit to re-open.
Councillor Karen Grinsell (Con), deputy leader of the Council, launched the petition calling on NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to bring back the unit to Solihull Hospital after it closed at the start of the pandemic so operations could go ahead at a covid-free base.
She hopes its reopening will ease pressures on GP practices, West Midlands Ambulance Service and residents having to travel miles to seek medical attention.
Speaking about her petition Coun Grinsell said: “We know we have got these pressures, we want to have elective surgeries carrying on but we need to know what the plan is and I am hopeful to have the MIU back.
“I want to keep the pressure on for Solihull to have a Minor Injuries Unit somewhere central.
“For the petition to reach 8,000 is really good – it is one of the biggest petitions I have seen and I want to keep it going.
“I am really pleased with the numbers and I hope to be able to get to 10,000.”
The Lode Lane site was chosen by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) to become a Covid-free site so elective surgery could continue.
Because of this the MIU, Acute Medical Unit and five medical inpatient wards were moved and emergency and minor injury services were transferred to Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth hospitals.
An appointments-only clinic was set up at Hurst Lane Clinic in Castle Bromwich for those with medical issues.
UHB and the CCG said: “There is no date for Solihull MIU to be reopened, as Solihull Hospital continues to play a crucial role in supporting UHB to be able to offer local patients their elective surgical procedures.
“There are considerable waiting lists for urgent surgical procedures, due to the unprecedented impact of Covid-19, so the capacity that Solihull Hospital provides is absolutely essential to help treat as many patients as possible, in a timely way.
“Any long-term or permanent decisions about potential changes to the MIU at Solihull Hospital would be subject to engagement with local residents and stakeholders, in line with the NHS’s statutory duties.”
For more or to sign the petition click here.
