Eastbourne station walk-in centre could close – consultation into future of health service

Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) opened the public consultation on Monday (February 3) and are inviting as many views and comments as possible on the issue.

The local NHS group says the plans to close the centre are due to “recent improvements” to health services, including access to GP appointments, NHS 111, and urgent treatment centres which are now available for at least 12 hours a day at Eastbourne DGH.

The 3,351 people registered as permanent patients at the practice would have to register elsewhere in town. The CCG says patients would be able to choose another practice in their catchment area.

However, they said nothing is changing immediately and local people are still able to access walk-in services in the current location, seven days a week, from 8am-8pm.

People registered with a GP at Eastbourne Station Health Centre are also still able to access appointments in the usual way.

You can find out more about the CCG proposals and take part in the consultation online by visiting the CCG website.

Hard copies of the consultation document are also available from Eastbourne Station Health Centre, or you can call 01273 403687 oremail [email protected] to request a copy.

To take part read the document in full, and then pull out the four page section in the centre of the document, answer the questions, and post it in the freepost envelope provided.

Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users can share their views by using the free SignLive app that connects them to a qualified British Sign Language interpreter.

More information about the service and when it is available is on the CCG website: https://www.eastbournehailshamandseafordccg.nhs.uk/contact/

Opinion Research Services Ltd. (ORS) has been appointed by the CCG to manage the consultation feedback and questionnaire responses and to “faithfully report” the outcomes.

ORS will produce a comprehensive independent report of the findings for the NHS Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG governing body to consider before any decisions are made about the future of the Eastbourne Station Health Centre.

The plans to close the health centre are based on research over four different days in 2018.

The CCG says the majority of patients (65 per cent) needed a prescription, while 21 per cent who received advice could “treat the issue themselves”.

The remaining 14 per cent consisted of referrals to a pharmacy, their own GP, or another service, with a small number receiving treatment on site – the CCG said.

The CCG said this “showed that people are using the walk-in service for non-urgent primary care health issues that could be dealt with by other services nearby in the town centre”.

A petition has been launched to save the health service after the initial announcement sparked an outcry.

A number of people pointed out the service had enormously benefited them and even saved their lives.