The University of Lincoln’s Students’ Union is calling on students to sign its petition, after the launch of a consultation on the future of the Lincoln walk-in centre.
Situated on Monks Road, the centre offers urgent, non-emergency care for patients. Under new proposals, the service would be replaced with extended hours in alternative GP surgeries, an enhanced 111 service and support for people to self-manage their conditions.
Wendy Martin, from Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said the plans make sure patients are seen ‘in the right place, at the right time and by the right people.’
“We must reduce duplication and for this reason we cannot offer extended access to routine GP services every day during the week and also sustain the Lincoln Walk-in-Centre. So it is proposed we close the Walk-in-Centre and focus on primary care,” she said.
In a press release, Lincoln SU said that they were ‘disappointed’ by the CCG’s decision.
They said: “The Walk-in Centre provides a valuable, much needed service to University of Lincoln students, staying open until late into the night to deal with medical situations and take the pressure off the already overloaded A&E department.
“Students who can sometimes find themselves in worrisome situations are reassured by a facility that can cater for their needs beyond the working hours of GPs.
“In order to raise our voice and ensure that our views are heard, we’ve put together a petition and would like to invite any and all students to take just a minute of time out of their day to click and join us.”
The CCG’s consultation was launched on Monday, and closes on Sunday, August 6. More information can be found on their website.
For students interested in signing the petition, it can be found online here.