‘Don’t walk out on our walk-in’: Lincoln students set up petition against centre closure

The University of Lincoln Students’ Union has set up a petition against the planned closure of the NHS walk-in-centre on Monks Road, stating it is a “key service for the city”.

Over 190 people have signed the petition so far on the union website, set up on Thursday, June 15.

The page reads:”As a key service in the city of Lincoln, the walk-in-centre provides care for the student population, alongside relieving pressures on other services in the area.

“Its closure will have a negative impact on its main and regular service users therefore this petition stands to oppose the CCG’s decision to close this service.”

The SU said in a statement: “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.”

Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group bosses told reporters at The Lincolnite yesterday that the closure would be the “best thing to do”, stating people would instead be encouraged to use their GPs and self-diagnosis services.

Sunil Hindocha, Chief Clinical Officer for Lincolnshire West CCG said: “If we looked at who was using the walk-in-centre, it wasn’t the students across the road, it was the university students”, adding that better GP provision and programmes such as Skype sessions with medical professionals was helping with this.

Sarah-Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer at Lincolnshire West CCG said however that just 20% of the 34,000 a year patients who used the service are thought to be students.

Thousands object

Another petition set up at the beginning of the week has gained more than 4,000 signatures. This will be presented to Lincolnshire West CCG before the end of the consultation in August.

Hundreds of people have also taken to social media to air their concerns about the possible closure, many of whom have used the service after being unable to book a doctor’s appointment.

FILL IN THIS SURVEY TO COMMENT ON THE CLOSURE PLANS.

You can also email [email protected] or write to NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, Cross O’Cliff, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, LN4 2HN.