Local patient group opposes closure of Norwich's NHS walk-in centre
NHS bosses say the clinic on Rouen Road needs to be more efficient
Last updated 26th Jan 2023
A local patient group is warning that closing the Norwich walk-in centre would put more pressure on surrounding health-care providers.
NHS bosses say the clinic on Rouen Road needs to be more efficient and keep up with patient demand better to be awarded with a new contract past March 31st 2024.
What are the options?
1) No Change.
NHS Norfolk and Waveney would re-purchase all three services meaning the locations and help offered would not change.
It says this would not help GP practices to improve their resilience, would not improve access to services, and is not value-for-money as it duplicates other services.
2) Close the walk-in centre, and keep the Vulnerable Adult Service and Rouen Road GP practice
NHS Norfolk and Waveney said this would ensure two services continue but there would be no additional local services to replace the Walk-In Centre and it would mean people could struggle to get help if they cannot get timely care from their GP practice.
3) Keep the Vulnerable Adult Service and Rouen Road GP practice, and offer the Walk-In Centre care in a different way
NHS Norfolk and Waveney said the resources from the walk-in centre would be redistributed to other GPs across Norwich to improve access to healthcare services, enable other practices to join up to services, and re-distribute resources to address the increased pressure from planned housing growth.
It says it has not finalised the details of how it will work in practice.
Why are the services being reviewed?
NHS Norfolk and Waveney says: "we need to meet the increasing patient demand, ensure everyone has equal access to services, make sure the limited workforce are used in the best way and achieve value-for-money.
"GP practices are open longer and community pharmacies offer services that were not available when the walk-in centre was first established.
"The NHS strategy is to move away from walk-in centres and provide healthcare help in other ways
"NHS Norfolk and Waveney wants to be more pro-active when helping people who struggle to access health care or are vulnerable."
"They really do need to listen"
Alex Stewart is the CEO of Healthwatch Norfolk. He says decisionmakers can't ignore local people:
"While a balance has to be taken I think they really do need to listen to what people tell them. They tried to close the centre a few years ago and there was massive public up-roar to that.
"I think there will be increased pressure again because from what I'm hearing people are feeling they could be left in a really vulnerable position."
"This is where the Integrated Care System has to be quite careful"
Mr Stewart went on to tell us that these facilities have an important role to play:
"If you have a child who has split their head, it's not serious but it needs attention, the advantage of the Walk-in centre is that they can access it very easily.
"There may be a few hours wait at maximum but then they are able to get some butterfly stitches and have the wound cleaned up.
"There is a national desire to close Walk-in centres and I think this is where the Integrated Care System has to be quite careful.
"One of their remits is that they are supposed to be providing services for local people and services that local people want to see continued."
"Norwich Walk-In Centre provides health safety net", says Healthwatch Norfolk report
After talking to local patients and professionals Healthwatch Norfolk recommend that there's:
1) A full economic assessment of the Walk-in Centre as a basis for investment in further services
2) Investment in further services to include additional clinics, additional services such as telephone/ video appointments, and staffing. Significant long-term investments would include seeking alternative premises for the Walk-in Centre and a satellite Walk-in Centre in another part of the county.
3) Review waiting conditions – to rethink the protocol for waiting outside/ queuing, considering extra facilities for disabled people, shelter, and funding for an additional clinic. To include improved communication on waiting times via a digital/ non-digital communication strategy
4) Improved communication and outreach – to develop a communications plan of in-person engagement and digital and non-digital promotional materials. These will encourage ongoing relationships and provide data on Walk-in Centre patients, GP practice patients around Norfolk, and vulnerable populations.
5) Improved partnership working with GP surgeries – to develop digital record sharing protocol to better treat those with chronic conditions and mental health problems.
6) Review policies on privacy and discretion – to provide further training for staff on communicating with members of the public during triage and developing protocol around more discrete sharing of intimate materials/ information.
What happens now?
Healthwatch Norfolk have now launched a consultation to get people’s views on the future of:
-The Norwich Walk In Centre
-The Vulnerable Adult Service
-The GP practice on Rouen Road in Norwich.
The consultation closed on March 26th and can be found on their website.