Adult patients with minor injuries can now be seen at all hours in Watford General Hospital's A&E department.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, closed the 'minors' department in A&E at the start of April between 8am and 8pm as part of the trust's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It meant adult patients with minor injuries could not be seen within those hours - and were instead directed to the Urgent Treatment Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

But the trust has now reinstated 24 hour access to the 'minors' department in A&E in Watford.

The trust says it is working with Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group for a "safe resumption" of some services - and restoration of all urgent care services at Watford General Hospital is part of that.

However, the minor injuries unit at St Albans City Hospital is to remain closed during May as part of West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust’s ongoing response to the coronavirus outbreak.

While the number of new Covid-19 cases is decreasing, the trust says the clinical needs of current patients are high and staff absence through either sickness of self-isolation also remains higher than normal.

In view of this, the unit will remain closed and the trust and Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group will review the position at the end of May.