Julian Knight, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Solihull, is turning up the heat in his on-going fight to save NHS walk in services at Solihull hospital.
Julian, party activists and concerned locals have met with Dr Sunil Kotecha, the chief executive of the walk in centre to express their support for the retention of walk in services at Solihull hospital. The move comes as the clinical commissioning group is finalising its plans for the fate of the centre which serves around 2000 patients a month. Originally, the group was widely rumoured to be considering closing the centre. Although these rumours have abated in recent weeks as Julian has put the case for retention through the press and behind closed doors, there are still serious concerns as to the future of the centre. Amongst the options being discussed, according to newspaper reports, is moving the walk in centre within Solihull hospital and effectively merging it with the accident and emergency department.
"We must keep walk in services at the site of Solihull hospital no matter what. If they are planning on moving into the main building we must have crystal clear and bona fide assurances that it will not mean that there is any damage to services. I feel we are winning many of the arguments and have proved the need for retention of services but we still have a long way to go to make this a reality. The fight goes on."
One aspect that is causing particular concern for Julian Knight is the fate of the 2000 patients who are currently registered at the walk in centre for GP services they could for instance be told to find another surgery with which to register. He said; “many of these people have medical conditions - such as asthma and diabetes - which make them quite vulnerable. I'm worried they are being treated in the review by the clinical commissioning group as an afterthought. They like the rest of the people of Solihull need a walk in facility."
Julian added that the people of Solihull owed a great debt to Dr Kotecha, saying; "he has built a highly successful walk in facility and whatever happens the Clinical Commissioners must build on this success and nurture it."