The minor injury unit in Monaghan opened in July 2009 and currently provides a service seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., with two nursing staff and a registrar in emergency medicine rostered on duty during these hours. Based on statistics for the first six months of the year, the unit sees, on average, 23 patients a day, six of whom are repeat patients. On average, seven patients a day attend the unit after 5 p.m. In the light of this analysis, the HSE has decided to change the opening times to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and expects the revised hours to take effect from 1 November. This change is the direct result of the current budgetary and financial position facing the health system. While the HSE has reviewed other possible options to save money or increase revenue, it has concluded that they would not generate sufficient savings in the short term. It has estimated that full year savings of almost €400,000 would be generated with the alteration of opening hours. The change to the unit in Monaghan is to be viewed as a temporary measure and will be reviewed in 2012 in the light of budgetary considerations and patient activity levels at the unit in the future.