Monitor announces review of walk-in centres

Fri 31st May 2013

Monitor, the sector regulator of NHS-funded health care services,  is launching a review to understand why NHS walk-in centres are closing and if this is in the best interests of patients.

The health regulator will examine to what extent the closure of walk-in centres has limited people’s ability to choose where and when they access routine or urgent primary health care services without appointment.

Responsibility for commissioning walk-in centres was originally in the hands of primary care trusts (PCTs).  As current contracts expire, NHS England will review the case for re-commissioning services for registered patients. It is now up to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to decide whether to re-commission services for non-registered patients, such as urgent care and out of hours services.

As part of its review, Monitor wants to hear from patients, past and current providers of walk-in centres, GPs, commissioners and other stakeholders about the impact of walk-in centre closures.

To download more details about the purpose of the review please click here.

Initial submissions should be sent to walkincentresreview@monitor.gov.uk by 5pm on 28 June 2013.

 

 

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