'Logical' to keep at-risk walk-in centre open
An NHS walk-in centre in Norfolk which faced being closed down or having its opening hours reduced in a bid to save as much as £1.5m a year will remain open for now.
The facility in Norwich was one of three services NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) considered reviewing in a bid to save money.
Changes to its out-of-hours GP service and Vulnerable Adults Service were also explored, with patients asked for their views as part of a consultation.
Ed Garratt, interim chief executive of the ICB, said all proposals had been taken off the table and a U-turn at this stage made "logical sense".
"The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase 'neighbourhood' level services and improve access to primary care," he added.
He said the decision was in line with the government's 10-year national plan to shift resources from acute to community services, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital services.
"It therefore makes logical sense to end this consultation and take stock of plans once the 10 Year Plan has been published," he said.
The walk-in centre, at Rouen House, in Rouen Road, is used by about 72,000 people every year and previously faced closure in 2023 before a new contract was agreed.
But in March, the ICB said it was once again reviewing its future as it faced a £280m gap in its budget.
It said closing the service would free up £1.5m a year while opening only in the morning would save £750,000, with the money saved being put towards GP services.
Sadie Parker, director of primary care for the ICB, said the government's drive to address the challenges facing the NHS had encouraged them to reconsider.
She suggested the under-threat services could potentially play a key role in realising the government's goal of "developing a neighbourhood health service".
"The situation has changed and we are expecting further national guidance on this which will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services," she said.
The news of the U-turn has been welcomed by Norwich city councillor, Lucy Galvin, who sits on Norfolk's health overview and scrutiny committee.
"This was a hard-fought campaign and I am so glad to see it has resulted in this complete change of heart," she said.
"These services for the most vulnerable should never, ever have been under threat.
"I have seen first hand the patients and professionals who have been deeply concerned over the past few years. Now we need to see stable, transparent funding for these vital services."
Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said he was "pleased" the services would continue to operate.
"There was a concern the loss of the walk-in centre could have had a devastating impact on A&E units.
"As of this morning we had received 3,540 responses to the consultation around the walk-in centre and GP out-of-hours service, and 207 around the vulnerable adults service," he said.
"The overwhelming majority felt the walk-in centre was a vital care safety net for those who either struggled to get an appointment from their GP or felt their condition was not serious enough for them to attend accident and emergency.
"We have no doubt today's decision will reassure the many people who responded to our survey."
Ahead of announcing the walk-in centre would no longer be closed, the ICB had encouraged residents to attend drop-in sessions at King's Lynn Town Hall on Monday, The Forum in Norwich on Tuesday, Blyburgate Hall in Beccles on Wednesday and Lowestoft Community Hub on Thursday to share their views.
These have now been cancelled.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
NHS walk-in centre faces closure or a cut in hours
Walk-in centre firm had "inadequate management"
City walk-in health centre under closure threat
NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB)
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Suitable for: pregnancy and nursingShape: C-shaped Size: 120 x 35cmFilling material: combed recycled PET bottle fibresCover material: cotton with Stratos *** Related: The best gifts for new mums, picked by new mums: 25 genuinely useful ideas *** £99 at John Lewis Best for: nursing Possibly the most stylish pillow in our test, the BellaMoon comes in various organic cotton cover designs featuring trendy muted prints. It's a C-shaped pillow: you position the long section along either your front or back, then place one curved end under your head and the other between your legs. Its secret power is two hidden zips that allow the curved ends to detach and then zip together, forming a smaller, half-doughnut shape to support breastfeeding or use as support for your baby. It didn't make the final cut because … while the BellaMoon pillow is described as medium firmness, I found it too firm, particularly under my head. 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Suitable for: pregnancy and nursing; shape: I-shaped; size: 120-150 x 25cm; filling material: EPS (expanded polystyrene) microbeads; cover material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey *** £33.40 at Amazon Best for: travel A novel wearable concept, the Babymoov Dream Belt fastens around your waist with an adjustable Velcro strap so it moves with you. The stretchy jersey front panel goes over your bump, while memory foam pads sit on the hips to provide bump support when sleeping on your side. I found the belt comfortable to wear, and it stayed in place well, offering support through plenty of tossing and turning. The most compact pillow tested, this would be a good option for travel – and it comes at a reasonable price. It didn't make the final cut because … the Dream Belt offers support only around your bump, so its usefulness is limited. You could pair with another pillow (or regular cushions) to add leg and back supports. Suitable for: pregnancy; shape: belt;size: available in two body sizes, XS/S and M/XL; filling material: polyurethane memory foam; cover material: 95% cotton, 5% elastane *** *** As you can tell from the variety above, pregnancy pillows come in different shapes. Which you choose is down to personal preference and the kind of support you're looking for. Common shapes include C, U, V and wedge pillows. C-shaped pillows support your front (or back), head and legs; U-shaped pillows envelop the body and so offer support on all sides; V-shaped pillows can be used in various ways, including one leg of the V supporting your bump and the other going through your legs (like a C-shaped pillow without the head support). When choosing a shape, also consider how much bed space it requires: U-shaped pillows are typically the largest. Wedge-shaped pillows are usually smaller, wedging under bump or back, but this also limits how much of your body they support. Some pillows, such as the I-shaped pillows with microbead fillings, offer much more flexibility for you to bend them into different shapes. *** This will depend on the shape of the pillow you choose, your support needs and your sleeping position. The NHS recommends sleeping on your side after 28 weeks of pregnancy, and many pillows are designed with this in mind. Longer pillows that go along the front of your body (I, C or U shapes) are usually intended to be cuddled: place one arm and one leg under the pillow, and one on top. At the end of the day, the point of the pillow is comfort, so anything that brings relief and helps you sleep is a plus. Of course, if you're having any issues with pain or pregnancy symptoms, or are unsure if a pillow is a good idea for you, you should seek medical advice. When choosing a pregnancy pillow, you'll want to consider the type of filling (eg microbeads, hollow fibre, memory foam) and the fabric of the cover. Most pillows have removable, washable covers. You may want to choose a pillow that can double as a nursing aid to get extra value out of the product after your baby arrives; some pillows offer specific mechanisms to reshape them for this purpose. *** Victoria Turk is a technology journalist whose work has brought her into contact with the latest gadgets and gizmos for the past decade. She is expecting her first baby this summer
