HEALTH chief Diane Ridgway has thanked the ‘fabulous’ staff at Rossendale Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) as it prepares to transfer to a new company.

Thornton-based Coastal Health Care Ltd has been awarded the contract to run the unit after a tendering process by the NHS.

The unit, based within Rossendale Primary Healthcare Centre in Rawtenstall, has been funded on a trial basis since April 2012 and run by East Lancashire Medical Services (ELMS), a non-profit organisation of local GPs.

ELMS did not bid to continue providing the service, but said the unit’s staff will join Coastal Health. Mrs Ridgway, chief executive of ELMS, said: “I’ll certainly miss opening my Monday morning post with a plethora of thankyou cards and compliments."