Page added on February 6, 2012
Loughborough Walk-In Health Centre May Relocate to Community Hospital
West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (WL CCG) is recommending Loughborough Walk-In Centre is relocated to the community hospital but has recognised it will have to address concerns raised during the 12-week public consultation, particularly to do with car parking at the hospital.
The recommendation is due to be heard by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT Cluster board meeting on Thursday 9 February, which will make the final decision.
WL CCG’s board met on 31 January to discuss the options for the Walk-In Centre in Pinfold Gate. After taking into consideration the feedback from the public consultation, the board said it recognised there was a strong clinical case for moving urgent care services to Loughborough Hospital in Epinal Way.
Dr Chris Trzcinski, co-chair of the WL CCG, said: “By moving the urgent care service to Epinal Way patients who require urgent care but not acute A&E services can be treated at Loughborough Hospital and will not have to travel to Leicester Royal Infirmary. This will also mean increased access to diagnostics such as scans, blood tests and x-rays at weekends, as well as observation bays.
“We have listened to what people have told us about their concerns, which were mainly to do with access, and in response we are developing plans to make a major increase in car parking spaces at Loughborough Hospital.”
In addition to car parking, the consultation raised issues around public transport, availability of GP appointments and the needs of communities with health inequalities. The CCG board has looked at each of these issues and is confident that it can take steps to address the majority of concerns, and on this basis is recommending that the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT Cluster board approves the proposal to move the Walk-In Centre.
The papers for the PCT trust board meeting will be available to view its website – www.lcr.nhs.uk – from today (3 February). If the trust board agrees to go ahead with the move a timetable will be drawn up.
