Two Nottinghamshire NHS walk-in centres under review

NHS bosses are considering moving two stand-alone walk-in centres to accident and emergency units, NHS Nottinghamshire County has said.

The walk-in centres in Stapleford and Ashfield see 37,000 patients a year at a cost of £1.33m.

A consultation will look at several other options including expanding the centres or closing them.

The trust said it was due to "public uncertainty about which part of the NHS to use" and a duplication of services.

The three-month consultation will run until February.

An NHS spokesman said the walk-in centres were not being used by some people in Nottinghamshire, creating an unequal service.

"Most users live close by... but less affluent people and those aged over 65 are less likely to use walk-in centres even though they often have the most need of health services," the spokesman said.

Doctors and nurses who work in the walk-in centres and consultants from accident and emergency centres at Queen's Medical Centre and Kings Mill Hospital will be involved in the process.

Thousands of consultation packs will be distributed and three public meetings and a phone survey will also take place.