31.05.13
Walk-in centre closures under review
Monitor has launched a review to investigate the closure of NHS walk-in centres and to determine whether this is limiting patients’ ability to choose where and when they access routine or urgent primary health care without an appointment.
Walk-in centres current contracts with PCTs are expiring, and NHS England will review the case for re-commissioning services for registered patients, while CCGs will decide for non-registered patients.
Catherine Davies, executive director of cooperation and competition at Monitor, said: “It is in the interests of patients to find out why walk-in centres are closing and whether the closures are affecting patient choice and competition.
“Walk-in centres are very popular with patients and the potential impact of such closures at a local and national level needs to be better understood.”
David Worskett, chief executive of NHS Partners Network, said: “We have become increasingly concerned that in some areas, walk-in centres are being closed or are under threat of closure even though they may be providing valuable access to primary care at times of day, or for groups of people, for whom the much more restricted opening times of conventional GP practices are too inflexible.
“We also believe that in some situations walk-in centres – or the absence of them – may be a factor influencing demand on A&E departments.
“While walk-in centres are run by public and independent sector providers, the latter play a significant part in this type of service and we look forward to contributing fully to Monitor's review.
“We note that Monitor has stressed that this is not being conducted under their formal powers to investigate competition issues. However, we would certainly expect Monitor to make full and speedy use of its formal powers, for example to prevent any further closures that are contrary to patients interests, if such cases come to light during or as a result of the study.”
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