Comments made by Mark Isherwood AM suggesting the minor injuries unit (MIU) should return to Chirk have been backed by a Wrexham County Borough councillor for the area.

Councillor Terry Evans has supported the comments, saying it would help to reduce the pressure on the accident and emergency department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The town used to have an MIU, but it was one of the five units closed in the North Wales region back in 2013.

Mr Isherwood made the suggestion before Welsh Government last week, and Cllr Evans believes the re-opening of the centre would definitely be beneficial for the Wrexham-based hospital.

He also believes the current system at Chirk Community Hospital has been affected because people are travelling to Wrexham for services as opposed to staying in Chirk.

“Yes I fully support what Mr Isherwood is suggesting,” said Cllr Evans.

“I use the hospital in Chirk for blood tests at the moment and it used to be the case that you could walk in, but now you have to make an appointment.

“I went two weeks ago with an appointment, and the waiting room was empty.

“I have now made an appointment for another blood test, and I wasn’t able to get one until next Tuesday.

“It isn’t the fault of the staff there, it’s just how things are – the system before was fantastic, but now it’s not so good.”

The unit used to be based at Chirk Community Hospital, but was closed along with units in Ruthin, Llangollen, Flint and Colwyn Bay.

The closures were made despite protests and claims that closures would have a negative impact on the A&E departments in the region.

Cllr Evans believes bringing the MIUs back could help to ease some of the pressure on the staff at A&E departments across North Wales, and would deter people from using A&E for smaller and less severe injuries.

He added: “I think having the MIU back would definitely help, or even if more use was made of the top floor of the medical centre.

“The centre is still new and the top floor is pretty much empty – it could be made good use of.

“When you go to the accident and emergency in Wrexham, you can see in some instances it is being made busier by people going there with minor injuries.

“It’s putting pressure on the staff there, so having a minor injuries unit in Chirk again could help to reduce that problem.

“I fully support it and believe it should happen, but obviously it’s down to the powers that be.”