1,000 residents call for walk-in clinic
OVER 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for a walk-in centre to be built in Southport. But views are split over whether it would be a benefit to our town, or just ‘a sticking plaster’.
Liz Savage, Labour parliamentary spokesman for Southport, has launched the petition for Southport to have a walk-in centre.
At the time of publication, it has been signed by more than 1,000 people.
People locally are as much as 10 miles away from their nearest walkin centre.
As there is no such facility in Southport or Formby, the nearest place for such a facility is either Ormskirk or Litherland.
For families without a car, this can mean spending up to two hours (each way) on public transport.
Southport Hospital does have an adults A&E department, but children are not able to receive treatment here. The nearest children’s A&E facility is in Ormskirk.
Liz Savage said: “It’s intended that the walk-in centre would treat both local children and adults. I actually started this campaign after talking with a young mum about her concerns for her child.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to get a doctor’s appointment and A&E isn’t always the right place to go – this can cause anxiety, especially if you have young children.
“Also, anyone can see the huge pressures on our local A&E has been under in recent years.
“Southport desperately needs a
walk-in centre for many reasons, not least because of the number of tourists and visitors that come each year.
“Some residents are having to travel 10 miles to the nearest one.
“It’s no surprise that this leads to people using A&E when their needs could be better served by a GP.”
Cllr Tony Brough, leader of Sefton Conservatives, says Southport’s A&E is ‘probably no different’ to any other.
He said: “I would caution myself against embracing the idea of a new walk-in centre until the following is clarified: where the facility would be, what level of care it could provide, how it would be staffed, and whether it would be available 24-7.”
John Wright, leader of Sefton Lib Dems, has his doubts too. He said a walk-in centre would still leave the town without a children’s A&E, broader paediatric and maternity provision.
He said: “A walk-in centre would be a sticking plaster, not a solution.
“Major investment is needed in Southport Hospital, and we will continue to campaign for that.
“That was my message to Silas Nicholls, the chief executive, recently.”
A&E deals with life-threatening emergencies such as: loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and major trauma such as a traffic accident.
NHS Walk-in services are available if you feel unwell or suffer from a minor injury when you’re away from home, if you aren’t registered with a local GP or your GP is unavailable. They’re open early until late, and most are open 365 days a year and offer advice and treatment without the need for an appointment.
A spokesperson for the Sefton Health and Care Transformation Programme said: “We are working to develop a long-term and sustainable future for all health, care and wellbeing services across Sefton.
“Our partnership works with providers and commissioners and is focused on a number of key areas which include, preventing illnesses where possible, as well as, community-based and sustainable acute care.
“We are at an early stage of planning and have not yet worked-up specific proposals about how services will be delivered in the future.
“But we will ensure that both our workforce, and the people of Sefton are fully engaged in the development of those options.”
A spokesperson from NHS Southport and Formby CCG said: “To give residents more access to health services we launched the seven-day GP service in Southport and Formby which means those registered with a GP practice in the area can see a GP of an evening and at weekends 365 days a year.
“We’d like to remind residents that pharmacies can also offer advice on minor health conditions and 111 via telephone or online can advise you on the best NHS service to use should you or a family member become ill.”
WHAT do you think? Email us at: seftoncommunities@trinitymirror. the Champions souvenir of LFC becoming
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