At last, a successful Government initiative (NHS Walk In Centre)

Member Name: merv

Product:	NHS Walk In Centre
Date:	26/09/02 (341 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easily accessible, Do not need an appointment, Free

Disadvantages: Tend to be located in cities, None in our immediate area

I was scrolling through the dooyoo topic list trying to find a category where I could tell you about an incredibly useful short course I recently attended about disability awareness.

Without any luck I’m afraid and as I’ve not had much success in e-mailing my suggestions, I’ve had to put that one on the back burner for now.

Still as one door closes another one opens and I happened to notice ‘NHS Walk-In Centres’ as a topic which I have had some experience of and one which I have a strong opinion.

My son is at university in Exeter, which as you probably know is some distance from North Wales where we live. At the start of the first semester of his second year, about this time last year, he travelled to Exeter by train to meet up with some of his friends for some pre study revelry to get the year off to a good start. We had arranged to travel down the following weekend with all the paraphernalia required to maintain a student’s existence in the twenty first century – CD player, computer, play station, bottle opener, etc. (and a couple of text books).

Before he went he had been complaining of pains in his side, visited his local GP who prescribed pain killers and had tests carried out which had come back all clear. Anxious to get back to Uni, he had ‘grinned and beared it’ taken the painkillers, set off for Exeter and said he’d see the Doctor on campus if it got any worse.

Whilst we were travelling down to Exeter the following weekend he phoned me on his mobile saying the pain was much worse and there were no doctors available on campus until the following week. When we arrived at Exeter he looked dreadful, very pale and obviously having a lot of painful spasms.

Not sure whether to take him to hospital, one of his friends told us about the local NHS walk-in centre near the city centre. We arrived to find a small queue made up mainly of students.


There was a very efficient receptionist who quickly took all the details and fast tracked us to one of the nurses, who really was superb. She asked some basic questions took a urine test and blood test and diagnosed probable kidney stones with a small possibility of appendicitis. She phoned the local hospital and explained her diagnosis. We were provided with a letter, the test results and told to go direct to the hospital, where on arrival my son was examined, x-rayed and admitted all within an hour and a half.

It was, as the nurse had diagnosed, kidney stones, which were successfully treated. After a night in hospital and Sunday lunch the following morning, he was discharged with enough time to move into his new flat and attend his first lecture the following day.

I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the service, both at the NHS Walk-in and the hospital. Friendly, professional and compassionate staff, and an unbelievably quick service.

Walk–in Centres were launched amid great fanfare by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999. The clinics were seen as a way of providing faster, more convenient access to medical advice and treatment for minor ailments. Critics, which included GPs and patient groups, said at the time the clinics were a gimmick and a waste of money. My son’s experience certainly makes me feel they’ve been a success, and I’d certainly like to see one in our area.

There are currently 42 which provide a free drop-in service, in pleasant rooms more akin to hotel lobbies than surgeries, to patients at busy locations in cities across England. They deal primarily with treatment for minor injuries and illnesses seven days a week. You don't need an appointment and will be seen by an experienced NHS nurse.

They are a tremendous help to anyone whose modern, busy lifestyle, or practical circumstances and particular needs, make flexible and accessible services so important.
They d
on't replace local GP or hospital services but complement existing local services offering healthcare advice and treatment, without you having to make an appointment, take time off work or rearrange your day.

The web site www.nhs.uk/localnhsservices/wicentres provides a map of where the Walk-in centers are located, alternatively you can call the NHS Direct Helpline for details of an Walk-in Centre close to you on 0845 46 47.

At least this seems to be one Government initiative which has succeeded – at least from my personal point of view.

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