MP calls for 'urgent' reopening of walk-in centre

An MP has urged NHS bosses to "urgently reopen" a walk-in centre after it failed to do so following a temporary four-week closure.

Eastham Walk-In Centre was originally expected to close for four weeks between 15 December and 11 January to keep allow staff to be redeployed to other urgent care sites during the busy winter period.

More than two weeks later, though, the clinic is still closed. Justin Madders, the Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, said this was creating "strain on patients and their families".

Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust said the centre would remain "temporarily closed due to ongoing staffing pressures".

"What was meant to be a four-week temporary closure has now become open-ended, with no plan published to restore services," said Madders.

"This creates a real risk that a vital NHS service is lost by default.

"Vulnerable patients from my constituency are currently being forced to travel further for urgent, non-life-threatening care, placing added strain on patients and their families.

"I have repeatedly asked Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to confirm when the centre will reopen, but no clear timescale has been provided."

While the walk-in service remains closed, Eastham Clinic itself continues to provide other services, including community nursing, continence care and speech and language therapy.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "The walk-in centre services at Eastham Clinic remain temporarily closed due to ongoing staffing pressures.

"This is being closely monitored and reviewed on a weekly basis."

"We are working hard to restore these services."

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