LAUNCESTON’S Minor Injury Unity (MIU) is set to return to a seven days a week opening schedule.

Following a stretch of closure of the site back in July 2025, upon its reopening two months later, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust announced that for a period, the site would be operating only five days a week due to staff shortages.

However, eight months on from the closure, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to confirm the minor injury unit will once again be open 7 days a week from Saturday, April 4.

The trust has said this shows that it has ‘delivered on its commitment to return the unit to its core hours’ and that the reduced opening was necessary to ‘ensure patient and staff safety.’

The potential closure of the site caused widespread outrage among local residents last summer, with many feeling as though Launceston was being forgotten by the trust.

The decision made by the foundation drew criticism from the area’s MP who said that promises to keep him informed were not upheld. Commenting at the time, Ben Maguire said: “I completely understand that staffing pressures are real, and with the chaos the last Tory government left us with, I fully sympathise with the incredible staff working so hard at our community hospitals.

“But residents always deserve clear, timely communication on changes like these, especially when it comes to access to healthcare. I was promised that I would be informed in advance of any changes to opening hours or services, and that simply hasn’t happened. It’s not good enough, and I will be taking it up with the Trust personally to make sure it does not happen again.”

Alongside the minor injury unit, the trust has confirmed that the town’s x-ray services will be available Sunday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Commenting on the news, hospital matron, Nicola Wilks said: “I am delighted to be able to open the minor injury unit 7 days a week: and just in time for Easter too!

“Catherine Bailey, minor injury unit sister and team have worked hard to get our 7-day service returned with recruitment and staff development. Well done to our minor injury unit team!”

Cornwall Councillor Damon Dennis added: “I’m very pleased to see the minor injury unit fully reopened at Launceston Community Hospital. This is extremely positive news for residents and for the many people who rely on accessible healthcare services in the town and surrounding rural communities.

“This news clearly demonstrates how committed the trust is to provide a high-quality and resilient service for the people of Launceston. This is a welcome development for our community, and I would like to thank everyone involved in working to restore the full service.”

Since last summer, the trust has been working with local providers to consider how the collective resources in the town and wider community can be best used to support local people. This work is continuing though the development of local neighbourhood health, as set out in the NHS 10-year Health Plan.