Consultation on Evergreen Walk-in Service

This consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to give us their views and to attend meetings during the consultation period.

In April 2009, NHS Enfield awarded a contract for a GP-led Walk-in Service with core opening hours of 8am - 8pm, seven days a week, to be run from the Evergreen Centre in Edmonton, where five other GP practices were already providing health care services.  In April 2011, these five practices merged into one, Evergreen Surgery, providing GP services for 15,000 patients. The GP practice running the Walk-in Service continues to do so.

There is currently a significant duplication of services provided in general practice and by the Walk-in Service. The cost of this duplication means that funds are not available for improving other health services in Enfield.

Evergreen Surgery is under contract to provide care for all non-GP registered Enfield patients and for patients nearby who require urgent attention.  There is no plan to change this requirement and these patients will continue to be seen and, if appropriate, treated during the core hours mentioned above.

NHS North Central London is committed to developing and integrating primary care services in a way that will ensure the provision of accessible, appropriate, and above all safe, services, for patients who require advice or treatment during the day.

We are therefore considering changing the hours of operation at the Evergreen Walk-in Service to reduce this duplication and to release funds for further improvements in Enfield.

Following discussions with local GPs and stakeholders, two options for change have been identified.

Option One - Provision of a GP-led Walk-in Service during the hours of 8am - 8pm at weekends and bank holidays only.

Option Two - Provision of a Walk-in Service during the hours of 6.30pm - 8pm Monday to Friday; and also during the hours of 8am - 8pm at weekends and bank holidays.

There is no plan to change services at weekends or on bank holidays; the Evergreen Walk-in Service will still provide services to all patients on these days.  However, the proposed reduction in hours of the Evergreen Walk-in Service would release resources for investment in other services.

We want to here your views. Tell us what you think by writing in, or by filling out the feedback form in the consultation document and sending it free of charge, to:

FREEPOST RSSZ-CYXY-XHUU,
Communications Team,
NHS North Central London,
Stephenson House,
67-87 Hampstead Road,
NW1 2PL

or by answering the online questionnaire.

The consultation period runs from Tuesday 1st November 2011 until Tuesday 31st January 2012.  Responses will be considered in reaching a final decision at the meeting in public of the Joint Boards of NHS North Central London on 29 March 2012.