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Two walk-in health centres will be closed as health bosses on Teesside move towards seven-days-a-week GP services.

The centres at the Resolution health centre at North Ormesby , and the Eston Grange medical centre in South Bank, will close in March next year.

The South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which provides health services for patients in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland, has now launched a consultation on the move.

It says that to find the money from its £8.4m budget to pay for extended, seven day access to GPs, it “cannot sustain its two walk in centres”.

What do the CCG plan to do?

The CCG have drawn up three different options for developing plans for urgent care across the area, and are asking local people for their views.

They include introducing extended evening and weekend hours at a number of GP surgeries.

Plans also include introducing a GP to work at the front of the A&E department at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

They would help treat patients, or send them on to the appropriate service, which would free up A&E for those with the greatest need.

How would it affect me?

Currently, those experiencing health difficulties outside of normal GP working hours have a range of options.

They can call the NHS 111 number, deal with the GP out-of-hours service, attend a walk-in centre at North Ormesby or South Bank, or go to A&E.

The CCG’s preferred option is to extend GPs hours at four surgeries, from 6pm to 9.30pm on weekdays and 8am to 9.30pm at weekends - and close both walk-in centres.

It would also like to reduce out-of-hours services and maintain GP led minor injuries units 24/7 at James Cook, but reduce opening hours at Redcar Primary Care Hospital to reflect the reduction in patient demand after 9.30pm.

The CCG says this would make it easier to get an appointment with a GP and bring the CCG in line with Government policy, which says that seven day access to a GP must be in place by 2020.

What is the current picture?

In 2014/2015, 76,204 people used the two walk-in centres - close to the number who used A&E at James Cook (83,553).

The peak hours of attendance at walk-ins are from 4pm to 8pm on weekdays and between 10am and 12 noon at weekends.

The health watchdog Monitor say that there are concerns that walk-in centres “generate unwarranted demand and duplication”.

The CCG also hopes to ensure the free NHS 111 telephone service “plays a more prominent role” in the future of urgent care services.

Operators ask a series of healthcare questions to assess symptoms, before directing patients to the most appropriate service.

What do the CCG say?

Amanda Hume, chief officer of NHS South Tees CCG said the organisation is not reducing spending on urgent care - but is listening to patients who “value access to a GP”.

She said: “We must reduce duplication and for this reason we cannot offer extended access to GP services 7 days a week and also sustain the walk in centres at North Ormesby and Eston Grange.

“We realise that replacing the walk in centres may disappoint some people, but we are confident that our proposals to improve access to GP services, and with our GPs working more closely together, we can ensure that people have access to a GP when they need one, seven days a week.

“People have told us that the way local health services are set up can be confusing. They’ve also told us that they value having access to a GP and that it is important to them that their health records are available across urgent care services.”

Have your say

The CCG are hosting seven public events to gather views about their plans at:

The Trinity Centre, on James Street, North Ormesby on Wednesday January 20, from 5pm to 7pm, and Saturday March 19, from 11am to 1pm.

Saint Nicholas Parish Church Hall, Guisborough on Friday January 29, from 12pm to 2pm.

Eston City Learning Centre, Normanby Road, Teesville, on Saturday February 6 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and Thursday March 10, from 5pm to 7pm.

Skelton Civic Hall, on Coniston Road, Skelton, on Tuesday February 16 at 5pm to 7pm and Saturday February 27 from 2pm to 4pm.

Tuned In, Majuba Road, Redcar, on Thursday March 31 from 12pm to 2pm.

You can find more information at www.makinghealthsimple.org.