Thurrock CCG launches consultation to decide the future of the walk-in service in Grays

Local health leaders want your views on proposals to close the walk-in service at Thurrock Health Centre in Grays and improve other urgent GP services in the borough. An eight-week public consultation began on Monday (2 February).

NHS Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is in charge of much of the local NHS budget, believes that walk-in services are not delivering what was originally intended.

The contract to provide walk-in services at Thurrock Health Centre comes to an end in September 2015. Before drawing up proposals for the future of the service, a review was carried out to see who was using the service and why.

This review showed that 90 per cent of the people who went to the walk-in service already had a GP, and over a third used it to get a second opinion (they had already seen their GP with the same complaint).

It also showed that most of them went there with minor injuries and ailments that could have been sorted out by their GP, going to a pharmacy, the minor injuries unit, out of hours’ services or sensible self-care.

Thurrock CCG wants to know what local people think about the proposals for the future of the walk-in service in Grays. The consultation is based on three proposals: carry on with no change to the contract, renew the contract but with changes such as reduced opening hours or thirdly – the preferred option – close the walk in service and reinvest in four local GP Hubs based across Thurrock.

 
Under the proposals, Thurrock Health Centre would continue as a GP surgery and the minor injuries unit at Orsett Hospital, which has useful services, like X-ray facilities, would remain open.

How can you find out more and share your views on the proposals?

● Visit http://bit.ly/thurrockwicconsultation to access the questionnaire online and read the consultation document (comments must be received by 5pm on 24 March 2015).

● Visit our public consultation page on www.thurrockccg.nhs.uk

● Come along to our public engagement events:

 

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Committee rooms 2 and 3
Civic Offices
New Road
Grays

Time: 7pm to 9pm

● Share your thoughts and views via: thurrockwicconsultation@nhs.net

● Twitter/Thurrockwicconsultation

Notes to Editors

The consultation period runs from 2 February to 5pm on 24 March and residents are encouraged to respond to the consultation document which is available at the CCG website at www.thurrockccg.nhs.uk.

For further information please contact Joy Joses, Head of Communications Thurrock CCG on 01375 365810 or email: j.joses@nhs.net