Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Walk-in centre forced to close
DECISION TO TEMPORARILY SHUT FACILITY ‘NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT IT WAS UNDER REVIEW’
AN NHS walk-in centre in West London whose future was in doubt has been closed temporarily whilst the NHS does battle with the coronavirus pandemic.
NHS bosses have stated the closure of Parsons Green walk-in centre is all about the response to coronavirus and has nothing to do with the fact it was under review.
Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) head of governance and engagement, Mark Jarvis, said the move to close the doors temporarily “is directly related to the developing situation with Covid-19 and the need to ensure that we are utilising resources as effectively as possible at this time”.
He says the closure aims to free up NHS staff to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
The CCG said the move follows changes at GP practices which are minimising face-to-face consultations and replacing them with phone and video assessments when they can instead to minimise contacts. It said it was essential to keep health services “as flexible as possible and to provide safe and effective care to patients, while protecting vital frontline staff”.
Councillor Ben Coleman, the council’s cabinet member for health and adult social care, said he “understands the reason that the NHS has given for doing this”.
“I respect what the CCG has said on the need to shut Parsons Green walk-in centre for the time being given the crisis,” he said. “I look forward to seeing it reopened after the crisis is over and we will of course be keeping an eye on that.”
Health campaigner Merril Hammer said she understood the reasons for the closure but said she thought people might be “confused” given the recent history of proposed closure and reprieve at the centre.
She said people also need clear advice about where to go or who to call instead.
The walk-in centre was one of many across the UK slated for closure under NHS England changes as it did not meet criteria to become an urgent care centre.
Hammersmith and Fulham CCG had appealed for an extension beyond the December deadline for the review.
In January, the CCG managing director told Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s health, inclusion and social care policy and accountability committee that she was looking at bringing in a mix of appointments and walk-in services.
A survey found that just 53% of people using the centre lived in Hammersmith and Fulham.
The Soho and Pinn walk-in centres have also closed their doors.
Hammersmith Hospital’s walk-in centre, which treats patients with minor ailments, has already been closed temporarily.