Work is underway to secure the long-term future of Sidmouth’s minor injuries unit (MIU).

The Beacon Medical Centre is currently contracted to provide the service until October this year but practice manager Andy Hosking said it is ‘very likely’ to remain there after then.

He said discussions are ongoing with the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and the GPs are ‘very keen’ for the MIU to continue at the practice.

The future of the facility was thrown into doubt last year when it closed at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital due to staffing difficulties and an over-reliance on agency staff.

It reopened in the Beacon Medical Centre in Stowford last June for an initial period of 12 months.

MIUs are run by teams of highly qualified nurse practitioners who have experience and expertise in treating ailments including simple lacerations, minor sprains and strains, bruises, minor head Injuries (with no loss of consciousness), minor non-penetrating foreign bodies in the eye, minor eye injuries, small partial thickness burns.