Fears over closure of Telford walk-in health centre
Closing Telford's walk-in health centre will put pressure on local GP practices and have a big impact on homeless people and the business community, it has been claimed.
The worries were voiced during a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council's health and adult care scrutiny committee following news that the
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Nearly 3,000 registered patients will also be forced to move elsewhere by the end of July after it was mutually agreed to end the contract.
Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group says public consultation will be held to shape a future walk-in service for the borough and have moved to allay concerns raised by residents.
But scrutiny committee chairman Councillor Andy Burford said it was "a pity" that the service at Sherwood Row will end before the consultation is carried out.
At a meeting held in Woodside yesterday, he told CCG bosses that the committee understood why this was happening, but said: "It's just a pity there's this gap. We would have liked to have seen that continue until you have done that consultation."
Councillor Burford said fears had been raised by Malinslee & Dawley Bank councillor Shaun Davies regarding the impact it will have on homeless people and those who travel into the town centre for work. He also raised concerns about what impact the closure could have on local GP practices.
CCG bosses offered reassurances to the committee, saying people will still be able to use the Malling Health Wrekin walk-in service at Princess Royal Hospital and its opening hours will be extended.
Nicky Wilde, the CCG's deputy executive for primary care commissioning and planning, said: "The town centre contract has naturally come to an end. It's a very small practice. The list size has not grown over the years." She said the walk-in element of the contract was not overused and said its registered patients generally lived throughout the centre and southern part of the borough. Ms Wilde said: "There are a number of GP practices which can accommodate them."
Tracey Jones, deputy executive of quality and engagement for the CCG, said the Malling Health Wrekin walk-in service at PRH has a contract until July next year.
There are about 7,500 registered patients at Malling Health Wrekin.
