COUNTY councillors are raising no objection to plans to reduce the hours of the minor injuries unit serving the Consett area.

The unit at Shotley Bridge Hospital, manned by nurse practitioners, was set up as part of a controversial health service shake-up in 1996, which centralised accident and emergency care at Dryburn Hospital, Durham and reduced cover at Shotley Bridge.

The unit was opened to treat less serious injuries, to reduce waiting times and the workload of hard-pressed staff at Dryburn.

But now the North Durham Health Care Trust wants to cut the unit's opening hours because it says it gets few patients in the evening.

It opens from 8am until midnight, but the trust says an average of only 2.5 people per night use it after 8pm, despite publicity campaigns to make people aware that it is there.

Now the trust plans to close the unit at 8.30pm - although staff will stay on until 9pm to help any late arrivals.

The x-ray unit at Shotley Bridge will close at 5pm as part of the plans and anyone needing emergency scans will be sent to Dryburn.

Durham County Council's Executive Committee heard that the Derwentside Primary Care Group - which includes local GPs - is supporting the proposal although it wants clear information to be given to the public about alternative services at Dryburn.

It is calling on the trust not to implement the reduced hours until September, so there can be extensive consultation about the plans.

The executive committee raised no objection to the proposals and to echo the primary care group's call for public information on the changes.

Social services director Peter Kemp said: "Reservations will inevitably be expressed by the public about this further reduction of emergency services at Shotley Bridge Hospital.

"However, based on survey results, there is little argument against a reduction in the hours of opening."

The closure of Shotley Bridge's accident department was bitterly opposed by groups in Derwentside concerned at the distance patients have to go for treatment at Durham.

Derwentside District Council leader Alex Watson has said the authority would oppose the reduction of the unit's hours.

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