Putnoe Walk-In Centre Campaign Latest: Petition Submitted as Mayor Demands Clarity for Patients
Mayor Dave Hodgson joined fellow Liberal Democrat Campaigners at the Bedfordshire NHS Clinical Commissioniong Group's Headquarters to submit their petition and call for clarity for residents and certainty over an ongoing walk-in service, following the shock closure of the consultation on its future ten days early.
Commenting on his Facebook page, Mayor Dave Hodgson said:
"This week I went to the Bedfordshire NHS Clinical Commissioniong Group's HQ alongside fellow campaigners to hand in our petition to save Putnoe Walk-In Centre.
As I said when they abruptly ended the consultation 10 days early last Friday night, the CCG may not want to hear any more from local people, but we'll make sure that local voices are heard.
Cllr Wendy Rider and I spoke to senior representatives of the CCG, and we stressed to them that they must make clear as soon as possible what is actually going on, because local residents need to know and they deserve to know.
The CCG is now working to establish an ongoing walk-in service for a further fixed period. This must not simply be another stay of execution, and instead must be part of an effort to provide an ongoing walk-in service on a permanent basis.
I have a couple of meetings scheduled on this next week, where I hope things will start to become clearer.
Their sudden withdrawal of the closure plans is thanks in large part to the overwhelming response to the consultation and the efforts of those who have campaigned on this issue. So once again I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has spoken up in support of the walk-in service!
I have made clear that I will work with anyone in the cause of saving this vital service. I hope the CCG reacts in the right way to the overhwelming opposition to their closure plans, by working to protect and improve services for local people, rather than cut them or take them away."