Health chiefs yesterday brought down the axe on the Lincoln Walk-In-Centre despite 94% of those surveyed voting against the move. We asked elected leaders and health groups how they will be responding in the interests of the public.
The announcement followed an exercise that saw thousands of people object to the move in an official consultation, combined with protests and petitions.
Leaders in the city gave their reactions to the confirmed closure:
Health Secretary appeal
Lincoln MP Karen Lee
Member of Parliament for Lincoln Karen Lee said: “As a healthcare professional, I understand that the delivery of health care changes and evolves with the passing of time. However, I am not supportive of the closure of the walk-in centre because it is my belief that its closure is a downgrading of the health provision my constituents will be able to access.
“Further to that, I am uncomfortable that the consultation process undertaken does not appear to have been a meaningful one, given that 94% of respondents expressed the wish for the walk-in-centre to remain open and the voice of local people has been ignored.
“The walk-in centre’s closure is likely to put A&E under an even greater strain than it already is. I have seen first-hand the pressures the hard-working A&E professionals are already experiencing.
“The decision by the CCG needs to be reviewed.
“I will be writing to Jeremy Hunt MP to request the decision is reviewed on the basis that the provisions are not sufficient in ensuring an effective level of care.
“It is my sincere view that the chronic underfunding of our NHS by the current government has meant our local CCG has been forced to make these unpopular changes to local healthcare provisions.”
‘Funding crisis’ a main factor
Sarah Fletcher is the CEO of Healthwatch Lincolnshire
Sarah Fletcher, CEO of local watchdog Healthwatch Lincolnshire, said: “Healthwatch Lincolnshire feel it is too soon to understand what if any real changes have happened.
“Whilst we have been given updates from reports produced by the CCG, for Healthwatch reports only tell part of the story.
“If West CCG have not done all their homework properly, then it will become apparent very quickly that any additionally provided services will not meet demand.
“However, we would agree that patients have a range of services available that should be considered including talking to a pharmacist. The concern comes when patients feel they are being forced to make ‘self-diagnosis and treatments’ rather than going to visit their GP, believing the messages are suggesting this
“At this moment in time we do not believe there is any chance the decision to close the Walk in Centre can be altered.
“The serious funding issues the 4 CCGs in Lincolnshire are facing, coupled with the fact that organisations such as United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust are facing significant funding crisis, has been one of the main reasons West CCG has made the decision to close.”
Further evidence needed
Councillor Carl Macey, Chairman of the Health Scutiny Committee for Lincolnshire
Councillor Carl Macey, Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire County Council, said: “In December, the Health Scrutiny Committee heard from the CCG about work to improve access to GPs, the development of alternative provisions to the Walk-In Centre and plans to promote these.
“The committee were satisfied that progress is being made but requested further evidence to be presented to our February meeting, to substantiate this.
“The committee has always expressed concerns that the Walk-In Centre should only be closed when these alternatives are fully in place and are shown to be providing what those patients need, without putting extra pressure on A&E in particular.
“We will be looking to the CCG to provide the evidence so the committee can be assured of this before any further actions are decided.”
‘A&E won’t be impacted’
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Jan Sobieraj
Chief Executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, which runs hospitals in the county, Jan Sobieraj said: “We have been reassured that the closure of the Lincoln walk-in centre won’t impact the A&E department and are pleased that additional services for patients will be in place for local residents.
“We remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that patients are directed to the services that can best meet their needs and attendances at our A&Es are focused on seriously ill patients.”
Challenging times
Andrew Morgan, chief executive of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust
Lincolnshire Community Health Services Trust was contracted by Lincolnshire West CCG to provide services at the Walk-In-Centre. Many members of staff have already left the centre.
Andrew Morgan, chief executive of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: “We have been working closely with the CCG to ensure any transition period can be managed safely in the interests of our patients and staff.
“The walk-in-centre team has shown an exceptional level of professionalism and dedication throughout this process.
“While it has, at times, proved challenging, the team have continued to provide an excellent service and has been grateful for all of the messages of gratitude and support from members of the public.”
City of Lincoln Council Leader Richard Metcalfe was also contacted by The Lincolnite, but he did not give a response by the time of publishing.
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Robert Goddard’s designer clothing shop will open on the first floor of the former Waterstone’s building in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter in spring 2022.
The Lincoln shop will offer a range of big designer brands including Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Barbour, Tommy Hilfiger.
It will sell menswear, womenswear, and a new range of kidswear called ‘Robert Goddard Junior’, which includes Barbour, Napapijri, Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren for children aged 6-14.
Following the completion of the £21 million Lincoln Medical School Building in March 2021, there has never been a better time for local students to pursue a career in medicine.
The UTC sixth form provides a specialist curriculum, in partnership with the University of Lincoln, which builds the foundation for medical and biomedical degree courses.
Kirsty Hickling, Head of Science at Lincoln UTC, said: “The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic was led by experts in medicine, highlighting the importance of encouraging this career path in our younger generation.
“The Lincoln Medical School was established in 2018 with the aim of improving recruitment of doctors locally. The close connections between Lincoln UTC and the University of Lincoln provide our students with opportunities to build their subject knowledge and skills within state of the art laboratories, clinical and anatomy suites. This experience is invaluable for students aspiring to pursue a career in medicine.”
Year 13 UTC student, Edward Pitts-Drake, is currently applying to study Paramedic Science at the University of Lincoln next year.
Edward said: “I joined the UTC in 2018 because I was already focused on studying medicine in future. In August 2020 I achieved a combination of 8s and 9s in my GCSEs, and I am now completing A Levels in chemistry, physics, biology, and maths.
“Studying at the UTC has given me the confidence to put my scientific knowledge into practice by volunteering with St John’s Ambulance Service. Alongside opportunities to visit the University laboratories, this experience has been vital in ensuring that my application stands out.”
Year 11 students can apply now to join the UTC sixth form next September. For more information visit www.lincolnutc.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01522 775990.
A 66-year-old man has pleaded guilty to one charge relating to the flight which cost Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson their lives in 2019.
David Henderson, of East Riding in Yorkshire, entered a guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, relating to the charge of attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation.
This charge relates to an incident in January 2019, when footballer Emiliano Sala was flying over to Cardiff to complete a £15 million club record transfer from French side Nantes.
Emiliano Sala pictured with Cardiff’s CEO & Executive Director Ken Choo after joining the Welsh club at the weekend. | Photo: Cardiff City FC
The plane he was travelling on, a Piper Malibu N264DB piloted by David Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle in North Lincolnshire, crashed north of Guernsey after poor weather conditions.
The crash killed both Sala and Ibbotson, with the former’s body being found some two weeks after the incident. Ibbotson’s body was never located.
North Lincolnshire Pilot David Ibbotson. | Photo: GoFundMe page
Henderson has denied a further charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft, with the full two-week trial now due to start at 2pm on Tuesday.
The Air Accidents Investigations Branch’s report into David Ibbotson’s death found that he had likely suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning and was flying too fast for the plane’s design limits.
An investigation found that Ibbotson had no night flying training, and held a private license that didn’t allow him to conduct flights for reward.
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