Swindon's Islington Street walk-in health centre to close in March

The Islington Street facility – where anyone can access on-the-day care without an appointment – has been rumoured to be closing for months.

Now health bosses have confirmed it will shut at the end of March.

Concerns have been raised about how homeless people and others unable to get to the Great Western Hospital will get medical treatment once it is closed.

Rosemary Curtis, trustee of Big Breakfast Plus, which works with homeless people, said: “The CCG wants to make sure that homeless people are registered with the GP practices at the health centre.

“That makes sense in one way because it would mean they get holistic care rather than just addressing a single thing. But we know that vulnerable people often live chaotic lives and it can be harder for them to make and keep appointments without someone to support them.

“There is a logic, but I think it will be challenging.”

Wiltshire police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson has expressed his dismay at the plans.

He tweeted: “Disappointed to hear Swindon’s walk-in centre is closing. Homeless services have declined in the last five years. Gone is the time when nurses at the old Carfax Steet site came to the Filling Station on Thursdays to tend wounds and give flu jabs. GWH is a long way for the homeless.”

Sarah Church, the defeated Labour candidate for South Swindon in the recent general election responded, asking him to try and keep it open: “Then please push to keep it open. For months we’ve faced obfuscation from the Clinical Commissioning Group and others over this and in spite of alarm bells ringing no one has listened. Perhaps something for your last few months in post?”

Talking to the Adver, he added: “The walk-in health centre, in the centre of the town had great advantages for the people of Swindon, and especially those for whom the journey to GWH was too expensive or those with other issues, such as mobility.

“When the centre was based in Carfax Street, the centre was available to all, and indeed the nurses regularly joined us at The Filling Station soup run, which based itself in the nearby car park.

“I’m privileged to have a seat on the Swindon Health & Wellbeing Board, but I’m not aware of this major change in the CCG provision for the town being discussed, or of any other public consultation have been undertaken.”

A spokesman for the CCG said services would be wound down before the final closure, adding: “Healthcare provided on a walk-in basis in Swindon is changing. A national directive from NHS England has called on CCGs to simplify the way in which patients access such services and remove the variation that can often be seen as confusing.

“This means that from April 1, the walk-in centre will be taken out of service. Between now and then, the centre will begin scaling back its services. Patients arriving before the end of March will still be seen but encouraged to seek future help from their GP practice, their local pharmacy, NHS 111 or the urgent care centre at Great Western Hospital.

“The CCG knows the walk-in centre service is a well-used resource among Swindon’s rough sleepers and would like to reassure them that healthcare services for homeless people will not be lost.

“Twelve GP practices in the town are now taking on patients who have no fixed address, meaning that any person currently living on the streets, or perhaps between residences, will have access to a consistent source of general healthcare, advice and treatment.

“Two of the practices offering this enhanced service – Carfax Medical Centre and the Whalebridge practice – are located within the same building as the walk-in centre, and the CCG is sharing this information to organisations that are in regular contact with the homeless community.”

“The CCG appreciates the withdrawal of the walk-in centre service is a considerable change, but would like to reiterate its commitment to maintaining the health and wellbeing of all people in Swindon, including those without a permanent residence.”