MPs oppose plan to cut city's NHS walk-in service

Alice MacDonald said people in Norwich "deserved" a walk-in centre

An MP has come out against proposals to shut an NHS walk-in centre which has already once been saved from closure.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board said it was looking at shutting the site in Norwich or reducing its opening times to just four hours a day.

But Norwich North Labour MP Alice MacDonald said the centre – which sees about 72,000 patients a year – was "vital to so many of my constituents".

The care board, which has opened a consultation on its plans, said money saved by making cuts to the centre in Rouen Road would be given to GP surgeries.

Ian Bucknall said closing the centre would be "a step backwards"

On the streets of the city, people said they were disappointed by the proposal after a similar idea was put forward two years ago.

Describing it as a "bad idea", 75-year-old Ian Bucknall said "the capacity to walk in to somewhere and get an opinion quickly is absolutely crucial".

He added: "Closing it is short-sighted. Unless they do something about the pretty diabolical service offered around here, it's a step backwards."

Adelia Tisdall, from Norwich, said she thought closure was "bonkers, because it's so heavily used".

"People are using it because the local GP surgeries are useless now and nobody can get an appointment."

"I don't know what we'd do without it," said Paul Jackson

And Paul Jackson, 72 from Sprowston, said he had benefited from the centre recently.

"I was glad it was there when I needed it. I think cutting hours would be desperate," he said.

MacDonald said she had carried out her own consultation with constituents recently.

"Many people raised the difficulty of accessing healthcare where they live, so the city-centre location is absolutely vital for so many of my constituents."

Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, said he also would fight to save the centre.

Speaking to the BBC, Sadie Parker, director of primary care for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said money saved from cutting back the service would go towards GP services in deprived areas that had lower levels of funding.

"That will actually see fewer people needing to be seen elsewhere, such as hospitals. It's about achieving the best value for our investment," she explained.

The consultation on the walk-in centre runs until 27 April.