Salford politicians came together across party lines to back a campaign for a new walk-in health centre in the city.
Seven Labour representatives and three Reform UK councillors joined campaigner Paul Whitelegg at a meeting at Salford Civic Centre to discuss proposals for a new 24/7 walk-in centre serving Walkden and Little Hulton on Friday.
Suggestions for a pilot scheme which campaigners hope would demonstrate the centre’s viability are being explored.
The meeting came after Whitelegg, a Walkden resident of 30 years who stood as an independent candidate for Walkden North in the May local elections, presented a paper petition signed by 600 residents and an online petition with 1,760 signatures to councillors in April.
That petition called for a new health centre offering GP surgery, NHS dental services, a 24/7 pharmacy and round-the-clock urgent care access without the need for appointments.
Six weeks ago, Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament for Bolton South and Walkden, agreed to become the ambassador for the campaign after discussions with Mr Whitelegg.
Ms Qureshi outlined that constraints on capital funding across Greater Manchester were highlighted as a key barrier to developing new facilities by NHS officials during the meeting.
She said that, despite these challenges, a range of potential solutions was discussed, including extended GP access, improved use of existing community facilities, and better coordination of urgent care services.
Ms Qureshi has promised to write to new Health Secretary James Murray and the Integrated Care Board, which manages and decides funding for local health services across the country, to “set out the case for capital investment and extended access in our area.”
According to the Labour MP, “The case being made by residents is a strong one.”
She said: “People in Walkden and Little Hulton are finding it too difficult to access timely care, and that must change.
“With a population of over 42,000 and continued housing growth, there is a clear need to strengthen local provision and ensure that residents can access the care they need, when they need it.”
Reform UK was the big winner in Salford’s May local elections, winning 13 seats to become the official opposition on the authority.
The leader of Reform UK in Salford, Walkden South councillor Ivan Voronov, was joined by the party’s deputy leader, Little Hulton councillor Lewis Croden, and Walkden North councillor Miles Henderson at the meeting.
Coun Voronov has backed the campaign for a walk-in health centre, saying it is “important not to accept managed decline” in the area and that all areas of Salford would benefit from this type of health provision.
He said: “The push for a walk-in centre has grown organically from a grassroots level.
“I support it as both the councillor for Walkden South and the leader of Reform in Salford.
“We need to think creatively about how to deploy NHS resources to improve health outcomes. A walk-in centre model has great potential. We must not accept managed decline. Walkden deserve it and more than that, all of Salford could benefit from such centres.”
Mr Whitelegg, the organiser of the community group Walkden in Bloom and the driving force behind the movement, has written to Salford Mayor Paul Dennett to urge a pilot scheme he believes would prove that Walkden and Little Hulton will benefit from the facility.
In February, the Scottish Government opened 16 walk-in clinics across the country where patients have access to GP-led care without an appointment as part of a £36m one-year pilot.
The campaigner pointed to the “success” of the Scottish trial as the basis for funding a pilot scheme in Walkden.
“I’m so proud of our community and everyone who helped get this campaign in front of the people who can make a real difference,” he said after the latest meeting discussing the initiative which began in January.
“We’re not at the finish line yet, but this is a huge step forward. Now we look ahead to a pilot scheme that can provide the evidence needed to show just how important this service is.”
He called the meeting a reminder of “just how powerful a community can be when it stands together” and heaped praise on residents in Little Hulton and Walkden who supported the campaign in numbers.
“Every single resident of Walkden and Little Hulton can hold their heads up high with pride knowing that by standing united, speaking with one voice, and refusing to give up, we are making things happen,” Whitelegg said.
“Mayor Paul Dennett has also agreed to look into how GP surgeries handle patient calls, to help tackle the dreaded 8am rush that so many of us experience when trying to get an appointment.
“We will be arranging a follow-up meeting with stakeholders to discuss the possibility of launching a pilot scheme for a Walk-In Centre right here in our area.
“Now, we’re not out of the woods yet, and there is still work to do. But let’s be honest, the progress we’ve made already was nothing more than a dream back in January.”
