BARRY Hospital's minor injuries unit will return to its full operating hours next month.

Campaigners, keen to extend and improve health provision for residents and visitors in Barry, have welcomed this and other changes agreed by the local health board.

Health chiefs say Barry Hospital is one of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB)'s "prime estates", and that the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) will revert to its full original hours – bringing to an end the reduced opening times introduced in 2010 as a result of difficulties in staffing the unit with experienced emergency nurse practitioners.

From August 1, the unit will operate from 8.30am to 4.30pm with the GP out-of-hours service also being extended - now scheduled to begin at 5pm.

The UHB will also trial a Phone First scheme designed to inform callers of the most appropriate place for their needs - GP practice, Barry Hospital, or University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Barry resident Jeff Heathfield, who organised the most recent petition calling for MIU opening hours to be restored, said: "I am delighted that the Barry public is, at last, being given back a fully functioning Minor Injuries Unit.

"This is great news for pensioners, the schools and residents alike and also the surrounding area.

"This unit should never have reduced its hours nearly two years ago. With such a large town, this is much needed." Vale MP Alun Cairns said he was pleased the UHB had responded to community demand.

"From my long discussions with senior health executives, I understand that from August the Unit will return to its original hours of opening to provide a vital service for the residents of Barry and the Vale," he said.

"This is great news. Many local residents don’t have access to transport and have difficulty in getting to the Heath hospital which was the only alternative if the Barry Minor Injuries Unit was not available to them."

Vale AM Jane Hutt said she had met the new Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to discuss the need for the Minor Injuries Unit to be available throughout the day.

"This is good news for Barry and surrounding areas," she said.

"I have been pressing for the re-opening of the Minor Injuries Unit at Barry Hospital for a full day session and am delighted to hear that the University Health Board hopes to commence this in August."