After hearing the damning news last Monday morning that the Launceston Hospital MIU had closed without warning, and would remain closed until October, a group of concerned citizens came together to protest and take concerted action to reinstate this essential service.
We have organised an online petition which will be presented to NHS Kernow, NHS Foundation Trust, Cornwall Council, our MP and any other organisation of interest. The petition went online on Wednesday 28 July 2021. To date there are nearly 1400 signatures in support of reopening our MIU immediately.
We understand the issues around Covid and staff shortages and we recognise that all health services are being adversely affected. What we do not accept is that Launceston should suffer disproportionately in Cornwall.
We know that other MIUs in Cornwall have closed occasionally during Covid because of staff shortages and illnesses, but Launceston has the only MIU that has suddenly, with no consultation, been closed down for 2 whole months during the busy summer season.
An Extraordinary Meeting of Cornwall Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee was ‘called in’ by concerned Cornwall Councillors. They were unsuccessful. This has to be addressed
From the NHS Constitution: Working together for patients
Patients come first in everything we do. We fully involve patients, staff, families, carers, communities, and professionals inside and outside the NHS. We put the needs of patients and communities before organisational boundaries. We speak up when things go wrong.