The contract for the running of Sheppey’s minor injuries unit will be put out to tender within a month.

Anger among patients and residents has been growing over the past few weeks since problems with staffing caused the unit to close.

Last week we reported how health bosses’ “long-term” plan was to re-tender the service, but they have now announced this will happen before the beginning of August.

A spokesman said the quickest it could be sorted is three months and the longest is by the end of the financial year.

The unit is run by Kent Community Health Trust, which would be eligible to re-bid for the contract when it goes out to tender. Until the re-tendering process is complete, the unit will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm.

DMC Healthcare has a 5pm to 9pm walk-in service every day which offers a similar service, but there will be no minor injuries unit during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Patients are being advised to use Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital in the meantime.

The unit is usually run by six staff on a rota basis, and there were already two on long-term sick leave and two who retired at the end of March.

A spokesman for NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent said it was trying to sort out the problems as soon as possible and was looking for staff to fill the vacancies.

“We will look at all bids and a decision will be made,” she added. However, Jean Spain, from Sittingbourne and Sheppey Patients’ Group, is still unhappy with the situation.

She said: “We have been told there are definitely no plans to close the minor injuries unit at Sheppey and it will keep running for the foreseeable future.

“However, there will be no daytime cover on Saturday and Sunday and this puts a huge strain on the Sittingbourne staff.

“We are extremely disappointed with this arrangement and intend to keep fighting for the weekend services to be reinstated as soon as possible.

“Summer is a very busy time – especially on the Island.”

Two new wheelchairs have been donated to Sheppey Community Hospital by a group of fundraisers.

The chairs, which cost £500 each, were paid for by money which has been raised by the League of Friends.

Some of the money had been collected at fundraising events and the rest was from donations, including one from Peel Ports.

Members of the league presented the chairs to staff in the hospital’s reception area on Monday and they will be used by any hospital patients who need them.

League of Friends secretary Margaret Blee said they always welcomed new members for the group and would be keen to hear from anyone who has spare time to help them raise money.

She said: “We provide equipment that the NHS cannot provide, and in these stringent times now we are going to be more and more in demand.”

• To find out more or get involved with the group, phone Margaret on 01795 877837.