Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has criticised Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for reducing the opening hours at the Ruthin Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.
The Health Board's decision comes just days before a public consultation on the future of the Unit comes to an end.
For the next two weeks the Unit will only be open from 8am - 3.30pm Monday to Thursday and will be closed on Fridays, instead of the usual 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday service.
Darren has been advised by the Health Board that the reduced opening hours are due to staff sickness, but said that temporary staff absences are no excuse for leaving patients with a reduced service.
Darren said:
"Many of my constituents are already anxious about the proposed closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at Ruthin Community Hospital, so reducing the opening hours at such a worrying time is not helpful.
"If patients require treatment outside the reduced opening hours, the Health Board is advising they visit the Minor Injuries Unit at Denbigh Community Hospital or contact the Wales GP Out of Hours Service, but this is not acceptable - patients should not have to travel to access these services when there is a Unit much closer to home.
He added:
"The Health Board should be much better at planning for the occasional staff sickness absence. Other hospitals manage when someone is away and I see no reason why Ruthin Community Hospital should be any different."
Photo shows Darren Millar AM at Ruthin Community Hospital, being presented with a petition during the Ruthin MIU closure during the start of 2012.