SU President Kudzai Muzangaza has expressed his ‘great disappointment’ after the Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) confirmed it will close the Lincoln Walk-in Centre.
The plan to close the Walk-in Centre was met with strong opposition by students, with nearly 3,000 people signing the SU’s petition against the decision.
“Please be assured that I will continue to represent your concerns,” Kudzai added, “and to seek assurances from the Lincolnshire West CCG that the alternative primary care services are capable of meeting demand.
“I will also be working with the University Health Centre to continue to improve your access to health care services here on campus,” he said.
The decision was made by Lincolnshire West CCG at a meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement on the group’s website, Sarah-Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer, said: “Our responsibility as commissioners is to get the best healthcare outcomes for the most patients we can – with the resources we have available.
“We completely understand people’s concerns but we believe this is the right thing to do as we seek to best serve our entire population,” she said.
Ms Mills then went on to comment on the comsultation, saying it was ‘comprehensive and extensive’.
She said: “One strong message to come from the feedback was the Walk-in Centre is viewed as a convenient service. The NHS is now in a position where it must focus on clinical need as a priority.
“As evidenced during the near 10-week consultation, the vast majority of Walk-in Centre attendances can be dealt with at primary care level and therefore it is a duplicate service.
“Again, the NHS is no longer in a position to commission duplication.”
An exact date is yet to be set for the closure, but it is due to take place by the end of the winter period.