THE opening hours for the minor injuries unit at Mount Vernon Hospital will change to 9am until 8pm, as from Monday, July 15.

Patients requiring the service after these hours should visit the A&E department either at Watford, Hillingdon or Northwick Park hospitals.

The unit, which is nurse practitioner led and open 365 days a year, will continue to provide the same services it carries out at present.

It is intended as an alternative to A & E for people with cuts, bruises, sprains, the removal of foreign bodies from eyes, ears, noses and other minor injuries.

The decision to scrap the 8am to 10pm opening hours was based on staff recruitment issues and a desire to bring the unit's times in line with its counterpart at St Albans City Hospital.

July 3, 2002 17:00