Fight begins to save Hereford's GP walk-in centre

Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is considering shutting the unit next to Asda in South Wye, along with minor injury units in Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury and Kington.

The reason behind the proposals is a plan to implement seven-day GP services across the county.

Public consultation will begin in the coming weeks with closures of the walk-in centre and minor injury units, should they go ahead, earmarked for August.

But one South Wye resident, who successfully fought a plan to move the walk-in centre almost six years ago, says she is determined to see the unit stay put.

"Nobody I've spoken to has got a bad word to say about it," said Glenda Vaughan-Powell.

"I'm furious about this. I won't let it close. They don't understand the impact closing it would have."

In 2010, the then-county councillor handed a near-800 signature petition to Herefordshire Council opposing plans to move the walk-in centre to a new purpose-built unit near the A&E department at Hereford County Hospital - a move which didn't go ahead.

She had earlier fought proposals to build the walk-in unit on land at the nearby Stonebow Unit.

In the past week a petition launched in the wake of the latest proposals attracted more than 2,000 signatures within five days.

The CCG said this week: "No decision has been made on any services as the future provision is still being investigated and decisions will only be made following a thorough public consultation."

Meanwhile, a service providing urgent care services has extended its stay in Herefordshire.

Taurus Healthcare Ltd, part of a Prime Ministers Access Fund pilot, has bases in Hereford, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

It was set-up as part of a national pilot to extend GP services into weekends and evenings.

Bosses have told the Hereford Times that it has secured funding from NHS England to remain operational for a short period past March 31 when the access fund pilot is due to come to an end.