ACCRINGTON’S minor injuries unit will be temporarily closed for a second time next week.

East Lancashire Hospital Trust bosses have taken the decision to close the unit between Monday, April 25 and Thursday, April 28, freeing up staff to go to help at Blackburn and Burnley hospitals during the next staged junior doctors strike.

This second closure comes after the unit at Accrington Victoria Hospital was closed for a week earlier this month to cover staff shortages.

MORE TOP STORIES:

A spokesman from the Trust said: " Next week, junior doctors are taking industrial action which will include withdrawal of emergency care between 8am and 5pm on both days.

"This is the first time any hospital will have had to respond to a scenario of this type.

"Consequently, it is important that we take all actions necessary to ensure that we collectively and proactively maintain our ability to see and treat the most critically ill patients as a priority.

"These decisions are taken after much consideration, with due care for the safety of patients and to ensure we respond to those with the most urgent needs.

“This temporary measure means that staff from the Minor Injuries Unit at Accrington can move to support their colleagues at our Burnley and Blackburn sites.

"During the last round of strikes, we took this action and it did have a significant and positive impact by providing our Emergency Department with additional support, enabling us to prioritise and focus on the most ill patients and manage demand."

The minor injuries unit will close from 8am on Monday 25 until 8am on Thursday 28, when the unit will reopen.

All other services at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital, including the Health Access Centre, will operate as normal during this period, hospital bosses said.

In the interim, staff will help colleagues with the emergency department at Royal Blackburn Hospital and urgent care centre at Burnley General Hospital.

A spokesman from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Everywhere is suffering from high numbers and it is not related to the closure of Chorley's A&E at all."

Junior doctors will strike on Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27.

The decision was taken by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust together with Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups.