Brighton walk-in centre closure on hold

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.

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 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.

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. They said around 400 patients a week are seen 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.”

A spokesperson for the CCG said: “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.”

The CCG said it is working to ‘make sure general practice is more sustainable, more resilient and works efficiently and effectively for many years ahead’.