Concerns raised over minor injuries unit at Fife hospital

MSP Willie Rennie has written to health bosses seeking assurances that the number of hours the service is open will not be reduced now or in the future, as a consultation about the future of the out-of-hours service in the Kingdom continues.

The out-of-hours service at the hospital could be stopped altogether, as the consultation only includes options which would see the service running at either hospitals in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy, or just the latter.

“I was distressed to hear that the service from the Minor Injuries Unit could be reduced as a consequence of the ending of the overnight primary care service,” the MSP said.

“I do hope that these concerns are unfounded and the board are able to reassure us in explicit terms that the minor injuries unit will not be closing to out-of-hours patients as well.

“That would be mean that in the evening or overnight, there would be no GP services or MIU. People are already angry and if more local health services are to go, that will really raise the temperature in St Andrews.”

Michael Kellet, director of Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, said the Joining Up Care consultation “do not contain any proposals for change to the Minor Injuries Unit” at the hospital.

He added: “I’d like to reassure patients and carers that the Primary Care Emergency Service continues to provide a service between 6pm-midnight and at weekends at St Andrews Community Hospital. This service runs alongside the Minor Injuries Unit.”

To share your views about the future of out-of-hours services in Fife, visit the website here.

Joining Up Care consultation workshops will be held in Cupar, St Andrews and Anstruther.

The County Buildings will host the consultation on September 4 – between 6.45-8.30pm – and September 11 – between 11.15am-1pm.

Waid Community Campus will host the consultation on September 20, 6.45-8.30pm.

And St Andrews Town Hall will host the consultation on September 24, 6.45-8.30pm.