Parsons Green Health Centre Temporarily Closed
Health bosses says 'change' is to allow staff to be better utilised during crisis
Picture: Julia Gregory
NHS H&F Clinical Commissioning Group, the organisation which plans our local healthcare services says that due to the unprecedented Covid-19 (Coronavirus) public health crisis, Parsons Green Walk-in-Centre will change so they can more effectively support the NHS response.
This is similar to most GP practices in North West London, which are all minimising face-to-face consultations, using phone and video assessments wherever possible to safely provide care.
This means the centre, on the east side of Fulham's Parsons Green is now shut.
The CCG says use of walk-in centres has reduced dramatically (by over 50% in every site) over recent weeks which means that staff could be better utilised in other services at this time of significant pressure.
It says staff in the walk-in centre will now be redeployed on to other duties, though as yet there are no details about those duties.
The NHS in North West London is clear that in these very challenging times it is essential that our health services can be as flexible as possible to provide safe and effective care to patients, whilst protecting vital frontline staff.
Last week the urgent Treatement Centre at Hammersmith Hospital in White City was temporarily closed, with patients redirected to Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham Palace Road.
At the start of the outbreak, the walk-in centre was used as a drive-in swabbing hub, but that service has since been stopped.
Despite the current crisis, the closure will be of concern to campaigners who have been battling to keep the centre open.
The future of the centre, which is very popular with local people, has been in doubt for some time with NHS documents revealing plans to close it at the end of March and the CCG admitting it was in discussion with both Central London Community Healthcare Trust, whch runs the cente and NHS England on the options for the future of the service.
In January a CCG spokesperson did not rule out the possibility of it closing.
However, this week the CCG assured local residents that when the crisis is over services at Parsons Green will resume.
Written with contributions by Local Democrary Reporter Owen Sheppard
March 31, 2020