Concerns closing Norwich Walk-in Centre will heap pressure on other services
The facility on Rouen Road sees 72,000 patients a year and almost closed its doors for good in 2023
Closing or reducing the opening hours of Norwich's Walk-In Centre will put extra pressure on other struggling health services - according to a man in North Norfolk, who's life was saved by staff there,
The facility on Rouen Road is under threat again, with the county's health bosses reviewing whether to scale down what it can offer - so more funding can be given to local GP services, instead.
It sees 72,000 patients a year, and previously almost shut down in 2023 when its contract ended.
However, a consultation at the time gained thousands of responses, with many raising fears about access to healthcare.
In May 2023, health bosses said they had 'listened' to widespread objections to its closure and went back on their original plans.
"The centre is a really valuable place"
Kazik Wrana lives in Trunch and was sent straight to hospital, after being checked over at the centre in July 2022 for a lung problem:
"I'm really disappointed by this. I feel the centre is a really valuable place where people can get checked over and not have to wait for a GP appointment, especially if it's at a weekend.
"With things like this it's not all about money. They should find the funding to keep it open. The people I saw queuing up were poorly children and those facing emergencies.
"It was a good thing for people to have as it means they didn't have to go to hospital."
"I’ll fight for it again"
Alice Macdonald, MP, said: “I’m shocked that, after our city came together to save our NHS Walk-in Centre, a proposal to close it is once again on the table.
"My constituents deserve excellent primary care, and a city-centre based walk-in facility that is both accessible and free at the point of use. We will once again stand up and make our case that this is not a ‘one-or-the-other’ situation whereby offering a walk-in service means that GP services will suffer.
"In my recent NHS consultation with local residents, many people raised the difficulty of accessing healthcare where they live, so the city-centre location is absolutely vital for so many of my constituents.
"I know how valued the centre is and I’ll fight for it again.”
"These proposed cuts would take us in completely the wrong direction"
Clive Lewis, MP, said: “I will fight these proposed cuts to our Walk-in Centre.
"It is well-used and helps prevent people from getting so ill that they need far more intensive care later on, putting even more strain on our health and care systems.
"Enormous wider challenges, including an increasingly ageing population and the urgent imperative to cut emissions, mean the big picture is that we need far more jobs in health and care. These proposed cuts would take us in the completely wrong direction.”
What's on the table?
Option A:
Close the Norwich Walk-in Centre and spend £1.5 million on GP practices across Norfolk and Waveney, using a fairer funding formula.
Option B:
Keep the Norwich Walk-in Centre open but reduce the opening hours and spending £750,000 more on GP practices across Norfolk and Waveney, using a fairer funding formula.
You can read the details in full here
"It is vital we hear from local people"
Sadie Parker, Director of Primary Care for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said:
“We are always looking at what we do and how we can get the best value for the public money that we spend. We know that changing how and where services are provided has a real impact on people, and we take these decisions seriously.
"This is why it is vital we hear from local people about the options we are considering before we make any decisions.”
This public consultation closes on April 27th. A final decision due to be made in June.