POLITICIANS in Malvern have expressed their delight at the news that the town's minor injury unit will reopen.

The minor injury units (MIUs) at Evesham, Malvern and Tenbury Community Hospitals were temporarily closed in January with staff redeployed to help on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19.

But with pressure now easing, the units are planning to reopen to patients who are experiencing problems such as sprains, strains, small cuts or minor burns.

The Evesham and Malvern centres are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, April 6.

Malvern Town councillor Neil Morton, said: "It’s been missed while it’s been closed and it's another positive sign that hopefully things are going to get back to as normal as they ever will be.

"It's really good news.

"I've had a number of people enquire where they needed to go while it’s been closed so it has been missed, and it’s a really good resource for Malvern - it's well used and it’s valued so it's great news that it’s reopening again."

Following the news, Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “It is great to hear that our local health service is starting to return to normal and our precious minor injuries units are reopening.

“People will still need to use the 111 service for advice and guidance before attending the MIUs but this is a really positive message for local people that the pressure on the NHS has been alleviated.

“The vaccination programme has been amazing and I want to thanks all the doctors and nurses and volunteers who have made this possible and are allowing us to get back to a more normal way of life as quickly as possible."

Evesham county cllr John Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: "It's fantastic news. Both myself and my wife have been pushing this for a long time, but we understand the reasons for the closure with Covid, so I'm very pleased it'll back up and running again."

Cllr Smith said he was against the closure of the hospital.

"I understand why they closed it, but I'm a great believer that the minor injury units are not used to full capacity.

"I think a lot of people who go to Worcestershire Royal Hospital might not need to go and could be dealt with at the minor injury unit, so it's great that it's reopening."