NHS walk-in centre faces closure or a cut in hours

An NHS walk-in centre could be closed or have its opening hours cut to just four hours a day.

The centre in Norwich – which sees about 72,000 patients a year – faced closure in 2023 before a new contract was agreed to keep it running.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it was reviewing the future of the service as it faced a £280m gap in its budget.

City councillor Lucy Galvin warned that cutting back the service would be a "massive, painful cut that risks doing more harm than good".

The ICB said more patients were getting treatment and advice from GPs or pharmacists under the Pharmacy First scheme.

It said that closing the service in Rouen Road would free up £1.5m a year while opening only in the morning would save £750,000, with the money saved being put towards GP services.

Launching a consultation on the proposals, 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."

The ICB said it was also reviewing how many of its nine out-of-hours treatment sites would remain open, as well as its vulnerable adults service, which supports those such as homeless people, sex workers and refugees.

It said it was considering closing the service's base in Norwich and creating a team "that goes to different communities across Norfolk and Waveney".

Galvin, who sits on Norfolk's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, warned that cuts to the walk-in centre could lead to more pressure on hospitals.

"Will this cut actually save money or will sick people simply go to the hospital accident and emergency instead?" she said.

"Two years ago, over 3,000 people were consulted on closing the centre, and the clear response was that these services are crucial."

Healthwatch Norfolk's Alex Stewart said previous proposals to close the centre had seen a strong reaction from the public who showed "there is a consensus that the walk-in centre is really needed".

He added: "It's not just used by people from Norwich – people from all over the county go there."

The consultation on the proposed changes is set to run until 27 April, with the final decision due to be made in June.

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