Colchester residents and workers are being urged to join the fight to save the Middleborough walk-in centre.

North East Essex Primary Care Trust announced it plans to move the walk-in service to a new medical centre in the Primary Care Centre on Turner Road.

A consultation has been launched to find out what services are needed.

Colchester MP Bob Russell, who supported the campaign two years ago to save the centre, said people should get involved.

He said: "I was led to believe that walk-in centres were located where there was ease of access for people.

"Therefore, a central location on bus routes, within walking distance of the town centre, is ideal.

"I suspect the reason is that North East Essex PCT inherited a building from Colchester PCT which is under-utilised and expensive to run.

"People should start writing to the people at the PCT to let them know what they think."

The walk-in centre was first opened in Middleborough in October 2004, as part of a Government plan to improve access to GPs.

It was intended to reduce waiting times and reduce pressure on the town's GPs and the accident and emergency (A & E) department.

But Matt Bushell, director of strategic development and commissioning at the PCT, said: "From the outset, the target for the walk-in centre was 100 to 120 people a day, excluding blood-testing.

"We have only ever hit those targets by including those attending for blood-testing who, on average, account for around 40 per cent of daily attendees.

"While this is a valuable service, there is no evidence to show that the walk-in centre has reduced attendance at A&E."

"I think it is important to reiterate that the proposed new health centre will incorporate a GP-led walk-in facility. It is reasonable to assume that the additional and more serious ailments, which can be handled by a GP-led service, will impact on the number of people who currently choose to use A&E as their first port of call."

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