Out-of-Hours NHS Changes in Market Harborough Raise Concerns

Concerns have been raised over changes to out-of-hours NHS services at St Luke’s Treatment Centre in Market Harborough.

From next month, patients will no longer be able to walk in to the centre in the evenings and will need to book appointments in advance.

Opening hours are also being reduced as a new system is introduced to access services from 6.30pm on weekdays and at weekends.

The out-of-hours service will close half an hour earlier at 8.30pm on weekdays from April 1st, while weekend hours will change from 9am–7pm to 9am–5pm on Saturdays and 10am–2pm on Sundays.

There will be no change to the operation of the daytime Minor Injuries Unit at the Leicester Road centre.

Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, has expressed concern over the changes and is seeking a meeting with health bosses to discuss the plans:

Pic Andy Carpenter

Fears had grown that the out-of-hours service might be lost entirely, and Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and officials from Market Harborough Medical Centre also contacted NHS officials to confirm the details of the new arrangements.

A spokesperson for NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board said the new model will provide same-day GP appointments during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays from more locations at consistent times.

They added: “This new approach will replace the current Urgent Care GP Service delivered from St Luke’s Hospital, but patients will continue to be able to book same‑day GP appointments at St Luke’s, with appointments available on Monday to Fridays (6.30pm–8.30pm), Saturdays (9am–5pm) and Sundays (10am–2pm).

“There is no change to the Minor Injury Unit at St Luke’s Treatment Centre, which will continue to operate as it does now.

“An engagement programme will begin in the coming weeks so patients can share their views. Four GP federations have been awarded contracts for the new appointments and are working closely with local practices to organise services for their communities.”

Appointments will be by prior booking after clinical triage through GP practices or NHS 111, with options including your GP, a pharmacy, or urgent treatment centres.

Each appointment will last 15 minutes and be with a GP and patients can still walk in to urgent treatment centres in Oadby, Loughborough, and Leicester.