A NHS worker and councillor has criticised the decision to close Malvern’s Minor Injury Unit.

Councillor Samantha Charles, who works in the health service, said the decision to close the units in Malvern, Tenbury and Evesham for the next six weeks, so that staff could be redeployed to help Covid patients, would just result in more patients going to A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, which is already struggling to cope with demand, and catching the virus while there.

But West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said closing Malvern's MIU is "part of a wider plan to help the local NHS" deal with Covid.

Cllr Charles, a Labour member for Malvern Hills district and Malvern town councils, said: “Our NHS is at breaking point thanks to the mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic by the Conservative government.

“The UK recorded 7,356 deaths in the first nine days of January which is more than Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Thailand had in total during this pandemic. New cases are growing at well over 1,100 a day and over 30,000 people are now in our hospitals with the virus, impacting the care of non Covid patients.

“Closing the minor injury units sends more people to A&E at Worcester, where there is a much higher risk of contracting the virus from other patients and the staff there are already overwhelmed with ambulances queuing to hand their patients over and a lack of beds.

“Until the government enforces a full, strict lockdown, provides full financial support to furlough staff and self-employed people, the situation isn’t going to change.”

Cllr Charles, a forensic examiner and former midwife who has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years, added: “I urge people to stay at home and follow the rules to protect our NHS staff and loved ones and to write to their MP to demand a zero Covid strategy so that we can all return to a normal life this year.”

Staff from the MIUs in Malvern and Tenbury are being re-deployed to community hospitals elsewhere amid a rise in Covid infection rates across Worcestershire.

Phil Shakeshaft, MIU lead for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “Our MIUs remain a key part of our urgent care system and the three units will re-open as soon as we can, but it is important that we use our staff in the areas they are needed most at the moment.

"MIU staff are trained and qualified nurses and they will be able to use their skills within our community hospitals caring for ‘poorlier’ patients so they can recover and return home as soon as possible.”

MP Mrs Baldwin, who has been part of a parliamentary group against tighter lockdown restrictions, said: “Of course, each unit plays an important role helping to take the pressure off the emergency departments at our acute hospitals but right now, the advice is that you should stay at home, dial 111 if you need assistance and you will still be able to arrange appropriate advice, assessment and treatment where necessary.

“Like all of these extraordinary measures, I am keen to make sure they are time-limited and I welcome the fact that the closure is temporary and will be reviewed regularly.”