THE NHS will launch its review into Cirencester Hospital’s minor injuries unit this week.

The review comes after the unit was forced to close several times overnight due to staff shortages, leaving would-be patients with no choice but to travel to Gloucester or Swindon.

Fears have now been raised that the unit could close overnight entirely, after the audit was okayed by the Board of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust at its May meeting.

Trust chief executive Paul Jennings will present the review to the county’s Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday and a public consultation will run until Wednesday, August 31.

Figures released by the trust found that, on average, less than one person used the minor injuries unit each night.

However, a source in the hospital, who asked not be named, threw doubt on the figure, saying sometimes more than a dozen people came through the doors overnight.

Candace Plouffe, chief operating officer at Gloucestershire NHS, told the Standard they were “committed to providing safe and high quality services” while delivering value for money.

“The number of people using Minor Injuries and Illness Units (MIIUs) late at night is extremely low. Clinical staff who could be, and want to be, seeing patients during busy times, are currently required to work a night shift with minimal activity,” she said.

“This is not an attractive offer to experienced nurses and as a result our MIIUs are struggling to recruit to their full establishment. This is compounded by the national nursing shortage and a competitive job market."