You’d have to be an idiot to believe that closing NHS walk-in centres is about relieving pressure on hospital Accident and Emergency departments.
Walk-in centres were intended to relieve pressure on both GP practices and hospital A&E departments by providing treatment to people, without appointments (they could just walk in) on a range of illnesses and ailments.
The idea was to leave only real emergencies to Accident and Emergency departments.
But the Conservatives have been closing walk-in centres and we can all see the result: A humanitarian crisis in the English National Health Service that has led to several deaths and seriously compromised the system.
Now the BBC is reporting the closure of two more, with the doublespeak justification that is will “reduce hospital attendance and admissions”.
How is that supposed to happen? Without the walk-in centres, people in immediate need will have nowhere else to go!
I think we all know what is really behind this.
The local Clinical Commissioning Group is having to make budget cuts, so the service must suffer.
Meanwhile, Theresa May chatters on about “minor pressures” on the NHS while more patients suffer.
Two walk-in centres will close as part of a shake-up of urgent care to reduce hospital attendance and admissions.
The sites, in Bury and Prestwich in Greater Manchester, will shut so resources can be moved to NHS 111, GP surgeries and A&E departments.
Though popular, the service was deemed “confusing” and the changes are intended to direct patients to the “right care”.
Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) approved the plan earlier.
However, protesters said the group had “ignored” their concerns.
More than 2,000 people signed a petition to save Moorgate Primary Care Centre and Prestwich Walk In Centre.
Source: Bury and Prestwich walk-in centre closures in care shake-up – BBC News
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