Two Norfolk MPs: More investment in county's healthcare needed
Local health bosses yesterday confirmed the Norwich Walk-in Centre will remain open. It had considered closing it to save money
Two Norfolk MPs tell us more investment needs to be put in different healthcare services, across the county.
Local health bosses yesterday confirmed the Norwich Walk-in Centre will remain open. It had considered closing it to save money.
Changes being considered to the GP Out of Hours Service and the Vulnerable Adults have also been cancelled.
The Rouen Road service sees 72,000 patients a year, and previously almost shut down in 2023 when its contract ended.
"It's not all about money, it's about reform too"
Alice Macdonald represents Norwich North:
She says improving community care is only one part of the puzzle:
"We need to have adequate funding for different parts of the NHS. We increased funding for this by £22 billion, at the last budget. There's a long way to go here and it's not all about money, it's about reform too"
"There's no need for austerity or cuts"
Clive Lewis is MP for Norwich South:
"I'm all for reform and changes that make services more effective and efficient, and the public want that as well.
"But, there is money and wealth out there, there's no need for austerity or cuts."
What's on the table in March?
Option A:
Close the Norwich Walk-in Centre and spend £1.5 million on GP practices across Norfolk and Waveney, using a fairer funding formula.
Option B:
Keep the Norwich Walk-in Centre open but reduce the opening hours and spending £750,000 more on GP practices across Norfolk and Waveney, using a fairer funding formula.
A public consultation on this closed on April 27th.
"Makes logical sense to end this consultation"
Ed Garratt OBE, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: “The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase ‘neighbourhood’ level services and improve access to primary care.
“This is in line with the government’s 10 Year Plan, which is due to be published this summer, and will describe a national shift of 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.”
"The situation has changed"
Sadie Parker, Director of Primary Care for the ICB, added: “The situation has changed since we started the consultation.
There is going to be a greater emphasis on developing a neighbourhood health service and we are expecting further national guidance on this, which along with the 10 Year Plan, will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services.
“The ICB will now put in place new contracts for the Norwich Walk-in Centre and the Vulnerable Adults Service, as the current contracts are nearing their end. The GP Out of Hours Service will continue as it is, because the contract is not coming to an end soon.”