A NURSE involved in setting up the minor injuries unit (MIU) at the Riverside Clinic in Ipswich has today raised serious concerns regarding the motives of health bosses over a bid to move the service to Ipswich Hospital.

Backed by leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Labour councillor David Ellesmere, Lana Bloom has questioned NHS Suffolk’s calculation of the number of patients treated at the MIU, accusing the primary care trust of“massaging the figures to justify closing the centre.

But health bosses have maintained the unit, set up in 2006 to divert minor injury attendances from the Heath Road trust’s A&E department, has not fulfilled that role and has led to added financial pressure on the NHS in the county.

Mrs Bloom, who no longer works for Harmoni which operates the MIU at Riverside, said the feeling among her former colleagues is that their hard work is seen as not up to scratch.

“In times of financial crisis, if someone says you are not cost-effective, they are saying staff are not doing a good enough job,” said Mrs Bloom.

She said in consultation documents she has seen, it stated the Riverside MIU sees 294.4 patients a week but recent figures indicate nearly 24,000 patients are seen every year which Mrs Bloom said equates to 461.5 patients each week.

NHS Suffolk confirmed last year the MIU at Riverside saw around 23,500 patients.

Mrs Bloom said: “Why the discrepancy? Is the PCT trying to deliberately downplay the success of the MIU?

“We had a doctor from the accident and emergency department at the hospital cover at the unit on one occasion because our own doctor was on a training course. He said at the end of the day that he had never worked so hard in his life.”

She added: “There is a concern that if staff are needed at busy times for the main A&E they will not be available for the minor injuries.

“At present, the minor injuries unit shuts at 10pm. That means you don’t get issues there like drunks turning up late at night – that gives it a much better atmosphere for people to have minor injuries treated.”

IBC leader Mr Ellesmere said: “I think it (MIU) has been a success and has taken people away from A&E.

“I am concerned there has been an attempt to downplay the success of the minor injuries unit to justify this cut and it moving to A&E. I am worried the number of patients stated is lower to make it look as though it has not been such a success.

“Another major issue is that people can currently park for free but will have to pay at the hospital. Residents surrounding the hospital already suffer with increased parking problems and I think that will just worsen.””

NHS Suffolk’s board are expected to make a decision at their meeting on May 30.