Putnoe Walk-In Centre Saved Again!
After years of campaigning from the Liberal Democrats and residents, Putnoe Walk-In Centre will remain open as the contract has been extended to 31st March 2024. This is fantastic news for residents who depend on the medical centre.
Since the decision to close Putnoe Walk-In Centre in January 2018, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have worked tirelessly with residents to save it. After the overwhelming response in support of the Walk-In Centre which was evidenced by a Liberal Democrat petition with over 1,600 responses, that decision was reversed in September 2018 and the contract was extended.
Despite the clear support and need for this service, the contract was only extended by a year and there was fears the centre could close without a renewal. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the contract was extended further, however there was still a risk of closure. The Liberal Democrats continued to campaign and put pressure on the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (and continue to do so with the new Integrated Care Board) to give clarity for residents who rely on the service.
Commenting on the success of the campaign, Mayor Dave Hodgson said "This is great news for all the residents who use Putnoe Walk-In Centre. We know of the current strain the NHS and GP services are under, so I'm very glad we have been able to save this vital medical centre. I would like to thank everyone who helped with the campaign, signed our petition and responded to the consultation. The extension to 2024 is very good news, but we need to get away from having to face this uncertainty every couple of years and see the service secured on a permanent basis."
The Walk-In Centre is open 365 days a year: 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday; and 8:00am to 5:00pm on weekends and bank holidays. It is open to anyone who needs urgent medical care for minor illness or injuries. Routine prescriptions cannot be provided. More information including opening hours can be found here - https://www.putnoemedicalcentre.co.uk/practice-information/opening-hours/.