Coronavirus - Chipping Norton First Aid Unit has been closed

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning group sent a notice out on Monday to say the county's minor injuries and first aid units (FAU) had been given different opening hours.

However today (Wednesday) they have announced the Chipping Norton FAU is to be temporarily closed completely.

A spokesman said: "The changes have been made because of fewer patients visiting MIUs and FAUs in recent weeks combined with we need to free up health staff to deal with an increase in demand from out-of-hours services."

Like other health organisations across the country, the NHS in Oxfordshire is responding to increasing demands caused by the coronavirus outbreak and planning for this to grow. At the same time staff are also affected.

The following measures have been imposed:

- Chipping Norton Community Hospital: The First Aid unit – operated by South Central - will be closed

- Bicester Community Hospital: The First Aid Unit and Out of Hours service will be closed during the week. It will be open from 8.30am to 11pm at weekends. Posters will be displayed on doors, for anyone turning up, signposting them to services at Witney and Abingdon hospitals.

- Wallingford Community Hospital: This unit is temporarily closed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Getting help: If you need medical help please contact NHS111 first, via phone or website. They will triage your case and direct you to the most appropriate unit. People with injuries who have not called in advance will be seen and treated as necessary. However, if the condition or injury is not urgent, staff will ask patients attend the following day with an appointment.

Please also note that in order to comply with social distancing policies, people are asked to attend units on their own if possible, or with one other person only if they require help or support. For more information see here.