Reprieve for walk-in centre

2.50.50pm GMT Thu 26th Nov 2009

John Leech MP, local councillors and residents with the petition

Burnage Walk-in Centre will not now close at the end of the month as planned following an intervention by MP John Leech, Burnage Liberal Democrat councillors and local residents.

The centre was scheduled to close on 1st December until the end of March 2010 as part of a wider shake up of walk-in services by NHS Manchester. However, after being contacted by Mr Leech, health bosses have agreed to postpone the closure, with talks planned for the start of December. The long-term future of the centre remains unclear but with almost 500 local residents having signed a petition against the closure plans, momentum is growing for the centre to be saved.

John Leech said:

"The temporary reprieve is certainly good news for the many local residents who use this service each week. It would be a terrible shame if NHS Manchester was to axe this service and it

would be completely unacceptable for them to do so without consulting local people first as they had been planning to do."

"I hope that we will be able to come to a solution that ensures that local people can have their say in the future of the centre. Patients mustn't lose out because of NHS budgetary constraints. Hopefully the temporary stay of execution for the centre can be made more permanent."

Cllr John Cameron added, "We're very grateful to local people for organising a petition and collecting signatures to show their support. Everybody is supporting the campaign to save the walk-in centre."

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