Patients' dismay as Telford hospital walk-in centre set to close

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As well as the walk-in facility, the centre has 8,000 patients on its books who will now have to transfer to another local GP.

Emma Edwards, a patient at the Malling surgery, said she was very concerned about the closure of the walk-in centre.

She posted on the Shropshire Star Facebook page: "My family and I are actually registered with Malling surgery.

"Even though we are registered here we can never get an appointment any sooner than three to four weeks.

"Our only chance when we medical attention is to use the walk-in facility. It is ridiculous to get rid of this.

"Sometimes, especially with children, you cannot wait a month to see a doctor."

Mark Roberts added: "So we are quite rightly being encouraged to go to a walk-in centre instead of A&E, but it is closing.

"This will only put more pressure on an overstretched A&E you really couldn't make it up could you."

Lynn Lovell posted: "It's disgraceful – how on earth are other GP practices going to cope?"Having this walk in centre close to the hospital is vitally beneficial in so many ways."

And Amber Jessica said: "I'm with Wellington Medical Practice and on three occasions since Christmas I've been told they have no appointments and to go to the walk-in at the hospital. Wonder what they will say now?"

Dr Jo Leahy, clinical chair of Telford Clinical Commissioning Group, said the building housing the practice is in extremely poor condition and is no longer fit for purpose.

She added: "We cannot justify the cost of replacement when other practices have excellent premises and can take additional patients."

"We also feel that the walk-in service is not fulfilling the purpose it was intended for, which is to provide access to a GP for people who are not registered with a GP locally or who could not get an urgent same-day appointment with a local practice with which they are registered."

"We now intend to work towards a smooth transition of services with other GP practices locally and are totally committed to ensuring everyone has access to a GP.

"This work will include developing appropriate access to GPs for all patients including those not registered with a GP locally.

"We have already consulted with local patients and we know that this is what most want."

Health bosses say all addresses where patients are registered with Malling Health will receive a letter advising them how to register with another GP after February 7, and help to do this will be made available.