Our campaign to keep a walk-in health centre in Accrington has been given another boost with the announcement it will stay open for at least another year.
Health bosses have confirmed the Health Access Centre at Accrington Victoria Hospital will now remain open until at least September 2016.
The move by the Clinical Commissioning group is another success for protesters, backed by the Observer’s ‘Save our Walk in Centre’ campaign, which fought to keep the walk in centre kept open long term when its closure was first mooted back in October 2013.
However, the long term future of the centre, used by more than 34,000 people each year, remains uncertain.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson welcomed the decision.
He said: “It’s good news, as long as that centre is needed for residents it must stay open.
“If people are phoning their doctor’s surgeries and can’t get into see the doctor, removing the walk in centre would put extra pressure on the accident and emergency departments at Royal Blackburn, people would end up going there to resolve issues without the centre.
“It’s up the health care providers to ensure care is provided.
“We will be keeping a close eye on it, we campaigned against its closure and we will continue to campaign to have the walk in centre kept open.”
A spokesman for the NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The contract to run the Health Access Centre at Accrington is currently commissioned by NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and due to end on March 31, 2016.
“Following a request from NHS England the CCG has agreed to extend the contract for a further six months until September 30, 2016.
“This will ensure that there is sufficient time to develop the future local model for primary care delivery, and which the CCG have been working on for the last 12 months.
“The CCG has been engaging more widely around primary care access, and is committed to continuing the process.”
The popular centre, set up in 2009, allows people to see a doctor on the day without needing to make an appointment. It is open from 8am to 8.30pm seven days a week and provides a service for people with minor ailments and injures who are unable to get a GP appointment.
