Brighton Station walk-in centre handed six-month reprieve

The walk-in clinic, which allows unregistered patients to be seen by a doctor from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, was set to close in March 2019.

But now the city’s health chiefs confirmed this has been put back by six months to September 2019.

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The walk-in centre is often promoted by Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as an alternative to accident and emergency (A&E) for patients with non-urgent and minor injuries.

But earlier this year the CCG revealed it was looking to close the centre, and was looking at alternatives for non-urgent care.

The proposed closure of the walk-in centre would have no affect on the 6,500 patients registered with a GP at the Queens Road practice, which would continue to operate as normal.

Green councillors have raised concern over the proposed closure of the walk-in centre, and called for more information on the impact it could have on an ‘already stretched A&E’ at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The Greens said around 400 patients a week are seen by clinicians at the walk-in centre.

Cllr Dick Page, health spokesperson for the Greens, said: “Although news that the walk-in centre will remain open for a further six months is welcome, we still have serious concerns over the future of non-hospital urgent care. Proposals to replace the centre with GP clusters seem vague and unrealistic.

“Given the numbers of patients that are likely to be diverted from A&E by the provision of a walk-in centre – including those who are transient, who have not registered with a GP, or who simply are not able to see their GP, any proposals to close it will need to be supported by a clear contingency plan – not just more talk of ‘integration’ or ‘hubs,’ which are often a smokescreen for local health services absorbing yet more cuts. There also needs to be a clear and specific public consultation, laying out the facts, finances and options – without any spin.”

A spokesperson for Brighton and Hove CCG said: “The provider of the walk in centre at Brighton Station continues to offer health care for non-urgent medical conditions without an appointment for residents and visitors to the city on an ongoing basis, from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week (including bank holidays).

“As residents would expect, we look at options for how to improve same day and urgent medical treatment for patients in the city to help ease pressure on emergency departments and local GPs, but there are no plans in place.

“General Practice (GP) services across the city are facing the same pressures that are being reported from around England. As a statutory public body, we work within the current policy and framework set out by NHS England and will continue to do so to ensure patients receive on going high quality GP services.

“We have put extensive measures in place to support GPs in the city, including financial and educational support to help them run their surgeries more effectively and efficiently to free up doctors to provide more care for patients – one surgery saved the equivalent of seven weeks of consultation time per year through a change in repeat prescription process we identified.

“A key area of our plans to improve health and social care across the city is to make sure general practice is more sustainable, more resilient and works efficiently and effectively for many years ahead. This will include integrating some services, with other clinical specialists like pharmacists better supporting GPs, and helping GPs work more collaboratively together. There are also a number of specific scheme such as GP retention package as well as oversees recruitment that the CCG is implementing as part of its workforce strategy.”