A community group co-founder and long-time Salford resident is campaigning to bring Walkden and Little Hulton a 24/7 walk-in medical centre for its residents who feel that they have been “left behind.”
Paul Whitelegg, an organiser of ‘Walkden in Bloom’ and a Salford resident for over 30 years, has begun to petition for a new medical walk-in facility in the area.
Paul’s campaign started in January of 2026, and he has plans to bring over 600 petition signatures to local MPs at the end of this month to discuss how to make a new walk-in medical space a reality.
His vision includes a GP surgery, an NHS dental clinic, a 24/7 chemist and pharmacy and 24/7 access to urgent care by doctors and nurses.
Many of his supporters are vulnerable people in the community, such as young families and the elderly.
In his plans, Paul outlines that he would utilise local buildings that are already pre-existing in the nearby area, such as Walkden Gateway or Little Hulton Health Centre.
He would like to reallocate NHS nurses and doctors from Salford Royal and Royal Bolton Hospital, which are both the nearest options for many living in Walkden and Little Hulton.
He said that it would “take pressure off the NHS” because 40 per cent of patients at an A&E could be treated immediately via a walk-in medical centre. This would mean wait times would not be so long for those who are in desperate need of accessing health care.
The Guardian reported in February last year that public trust in the NHS is declining due to people feeling let down, and that one in three people (34%) are reluctant to seek help at A&E because they think it will be overwhelmed.
When asked why he started his campaign, he said: “Hearing the horror stories sent shivers down my spine”.
He talked about one woman in the community whose son had eczema, and from his scratching, he contracted pneumonia.
Paul recalled his emotional discussion with her, where she said that she was forced to travel all the way to Salford Royal at a late hour, with as little as £2 in her bank account. She then had to get a taxi home late at night, and “had to go door-knocking” in order to pay for her trip home.
Paul thinks that this could all be avoided if people from Walkden had access to better services, as he can see from living in the area that its population is one that is quickly growing. He recalled sharing similar healthcare difficulties with contracting tonsillitis regularly, and feeling the same struggle that many in the community feel.
Elaine Williams from Walkden, 72, repeatedly said: “I will never call 111 again.”
She said that her trust has deteriorated after she had to call the helpline about her husband after he suffered a stroke and added that it took over an hour for the emergency ambulance to come.
She explained that the NHS “were great, I couldn’t fault them,” but still feels that access to high-quality healthcare in the area is limited.
There is a shared opinion by members of the community that it is not distinctly the NHS’s fault, but people feel like they are being passed around in order to reach a solution by GPs and Accident and Emergency services. Paul said that he recognises that people want to see active change.
Paul has used his own money to fund printing and handing out flyers to make people more aware of his campaign and says that he has reached out to MPs, urging them to back his plan for the area.
He has been able to drum up support in the community because of his reputation for his work with Walkden in Bloom, where he organises litter picks and plants flower beds to make the area pleasant.
Paul said that he is feeling supported by a range of local businesses, colleges and schools, where he said: “even the year 7’s are getting involved.”
Paul is hosting meetings at community hub Hug in a Mug to discuss planning, which are open to the public to attend. The next meetings will take place on March 14 and April 11, 2026, at 12pm.
