Health minister visits Yarmouth centre
HEALTH minister Ann Keen hailed the impact of new walk-in clinics as she formally opened the Greyfriars Health Centre in Yarmouth yesterday.The GP-led centre, open seven days a week throughout the year from 8am to 8pm, has already served nearly 2,000 walk-in patients in its first three months of operation.
HEALTH minister Ann Keen hailed the impact of new walk-in clinics as she formally opened the Greyfriars Health Centre in Yarmouth yesterday.
The GP-led centre, open seven days a week throughout the year from 8am to 8pm, has already served nearly 2,000 walk-in patients in its first three months of operation.
Unveiling an entrance plaque in the portable building, which will be replaced by a permanent facility in three years, Ms Keen described walk-in centres as “the way forward”.
“Health concerns and illnesses don't just happen within certain hours. Historically, people might have gone to A and E outside surgery hours but walk-in centres are certainly preferable,” she said.
You may also want to watch:
The centre, inspired by Lord Darzi, was the first such walk-in centre to open in the region - a similar facility opened in Castle Mall, Norwich, earlier this month.
David Edwards, chairman of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said their aim was for the centre to be a one-stop hub of health facilities, from blood testing to sexual health services, as well as offering GP consultations.
Most Read
- 1 Londoners fined for travelling to stay at second home in Norfolk
- 2 'One of a kind' home with golf simulator and gym is for sale for £795,000
- 3 Drivers face non-essential travel fines after spate of snow crashes
- 4 Drug-dealers caught in undercover police sting
- 5 'Too many holiday homes' - Residents object to conversion bid
- 6 Norfolk wakes up to snow with more expected to fall
- 7 Are you in our Norfolk school photos from the 1970s?
- 8 Covid case rates continue to fall across Norfolk and Waveney
- 9 £250,000 of cannabis found in two cars on A11
- 10 Knifeman threatened to cut victim's throat if he 'grassed'
He stressed the importance of the centre, which will cost up to �8m by the time the permanent building work is done, being local to people's homes and places of work.
Its worth had already been shown by the number of users, and its impact in relieving pressure on local GP surgeries.