Minister asked to stop unit plans

Health Secretary John Reid has been asked to step into a row over minor injury services in south Devon.

The Teignbridge Primary Care Trust wants to cut 24-hour services at Dawlish, Bovey Tracey and Ashburton in favour of daytime opening hours.

But some locals have mounted a campaign against the move and have written to Dr Reid, asking him to order the suspension of the closure consultation.

The Trust said it had invested in improving facilities and training GPs.

It said it planned to increase the hours of its Newton Abbot unit and had invested £40,000 in services.

It added that the money it had invested was also to ensure more GPs could deal with minor injuries.

Last week, more than 1,400 petition letters were given to health managers in south Devon in protest at the changes to the units' opening times.