Health bosses have moved to reassure residents that the Island’s minor injuries unit is not facing closure.

MP Gordon Henderson said he had had an assurance from Ann Sutton, the chief executive of the Kent and Medway NHS Cluster.

She confirmed to him that she is working hard to return the unit at Sheppey Community Hospital to a 12-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week service as quickly as possible.

It comes after weeks of uncertainty regarding the unit, which had to be closed temporarily because of staff sickness.

The unit is run by Kent Community Health NHS Trust weekdays from 9am to 5pm, with cover from DMC Healthcare from 5pm to 9pm, seven days a week.

Residents have been asked to go to Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital for treatment as an alternative.

The problems with the unit were a topic for discussion for residents who attended the Sheppey Local Engagement Forum meeting in Leysdown last week.

A representative from the NHS was at the meeting to bring everyone up to date, but Leysdown and Warden borough councillor Pat Sandle said people were frustrated there were still no firm dates for a return to a full service.

She said: “They said they are having difficulty recruiting staff with the right skills.

“The staff are put in Sittingbourne because that gets more people than Sheppey, which is OK at some times of the year, but not at this time because we have a big influx.

“They [NHS] said they want it back as soon as possible but couldn’t give us a date.

“We did have a big attendance [at the meeting] because it’s a sore subject at this end.”

Mr Henderson added: “I am pleased to accept this assurance. However, I will continue to monitor the situation carefully to ensure my constituents on Sheppey and the holidaymakers who stay over the summer months have access to a minor injuries unit.”