17/07/2025
Regrettably, Launceston Minor Injury Unit (MIU) does not have enough staff to safely provide a 7-day service this summer. To keep patients and staff safe, the Trust has made the difficult decision to close the unit from 8am on 21 July until it is safe to reopen. The rest of the hospital remains open.
The Trust has recruited to vacant posts, but when our new colleagues start in post, they will need to complete their mandatory induction and training.
The Trust has explored a range of options to offer alternative services in the area, but unfortunately these have not come to fruition.
Launceston is one of the county’s quietest units with less than 8,000 attendances a year. The existing staff will work in the MIUs in Stratton, Liskeard or Bodmin. These units are larger and busier and these additional staff will provide support and resilience to these other units.
The x-ray will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays for appointments only.
A 9am to 5pm, 7-day a week x-ray service will be provided from Liskeard Community Hospital. This is an increase of the service for 1 day a week, while the MIU in Launceston is closed.
X-rays are also available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm at Stratton Community Hospital and 7 days a week in Bodmin Community Hospital from 8am to 8pm.
In north and east Cornwall other minor injury units are available in Liskeard, Stratton or Bodmin Community Hospital. An MIU is also available at Tavistock Hospital in Devon.
Check current hospital opening and waiting times for Cornwall and Devon units: https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/miu-waiting-times
There are also 3 pharmacies in the town. Their opening hours vary but can easily be checked on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Pharmacies can support common conditions like insect bites, mild skin conditions, sore throats. Find out more about the pharmacy mild ailments scheme: https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/help-us/pharmacy/
A minor eye conditions service is provided by many opticians. This is a free NHS service provided by accredited opticians for recently occurring minor eye problems. It offers assessment and treatment for conditions like red eye, dry eye, and foreign bodies in the eye. Find an optician: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-an-NHS-sight-test/location
Anyone who has a minor injury or is not sure what NHS service they need should go to NHS online to use the symptom checker: https://111.nhs.uk/
You can also call NHS 111 before travelling to a unit. The service is free to call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NHS 111 can call an ambulance if needed.
In a life or limb threatening emergency people should continue to call 999.
