Urgent Care Centre Concerns Discussed

Concerns about Market Harborough’s Urgent Care Centre have been aired by a health watchdog.

In recent weeks a number of people have been left unhappy at being turned away from the out-of-hours service at the St Luke’s Treatment Centre, which is advertised as a ‘walk-in’ service, being told they need to make an appointment.

Leicestershire County Council’s Health and Scrutiny Committee discussed the concerns with the local NHS.

Committee member Cllr Sarah Hill, from Market Harborough, spoke of her personal experience:

A new provider took over running the Urgent Care Centre service across Leicestershire and Rutland in April.

Tim Sacks, Chief Operating Officer of the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group, who run the service, responded at  yesterday’s meeting:

Meanwhile, day-time opening hours at the Minor Injuries Unit in Market Harborough have been extended.

The facility at St Luke’s will now stay open until 6.30pm weekdays.

New contracts with GP Practices have allowed the hour and a half extension, which will compensate for cuts to the Urgent Care Centre opening hours made in April.

The Urgent Care service at St Luke’s is open from 6.30pm til 9pm on weekday evenings and from 9am to 7pm at weekends and on Bank Holidays.