People Power: Controversial proposals to axe five walk-in centres across Wirral are SCRAPPED

However, two centres could still face the chop under new recommendations which could see the facilities shut down and replaced with improved access to GP appointments.

Wirral’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have today published their final recommendations on the transformation of Urgent Care in the borough.

It follows a public consultation that ran between September and December 2018, which sought feedback on plans to close the walk-in facilities at Eastham Clinic, Victoria Central in Wallasey, Miriam Medical Centre in Birkenhead, Parkfield Medical Centre in New Ferry and Moreton Health Clinic.

The move would have seen services moved to Arrowe Park Hospital in the form of an Urgent Treatment Centre, with more GP appointments and “closer to home” care introduced at other health centres across the borough.

However, thousands opposed this plan, citing inadequate public transport links to Arrowe Park as a major concern.

More than 30,000 worried residents signed a petition calling for the move to be scrapped.

Birkenhead MP Frank Field said: "Birkenhead asked with a collective voice for our vital care services at the Miriam Medical Centre to be protected and strengthened.

"Today, our voice has been heard. Under these revised proposals, not only will Miriam remain open to all age groups, on a drop-in basis, throughout the whole year, but its opening hours will be extended.

"Care and treatment will remain available in our community where we, as patients, need to access them. 

"If these proposals are signed off at the health authorities’ next meeting, this will represent a monumental victory for our campaign which was led by Dr Abhi Mantgani and supported by so many residents and councillors.

"Thank you to those many, many thousands of residents whose feedback has made this decision possible."

Dr Mantgani - senior executive partner at Miriam Medical Centre in Birkenhead - said: "I would like to personally thank the Wirral Globe and all its readers who supported our campaign.

"It was an excellent example of people-power in action.

“We are very pleased the CCG has listened to our patients and the public, who made it very clear that they wanted to keep these services open, as well as having a 24 hour service at Arrowe Park.

 "I am particularly pleased that our patients in Birkenhead will have an extended service at Miriam. I would also like to thank our local MPs Frank Field and Angela Eagle  and councillors, who campaigned strongly for this on our behalf. 

"This is a good result for the people of Wirral, and means that people in the most deprived parts of the borough will have good access to urgent care in their local communities.”

And Wirral Council's Liberal Democrat group leader Phil Gilchrist, who campaigned to keep walk-in services at Eastham, said: "This is the answer my community hoped and worked for.

"People across southern Wirral were up in arms. The Eastham community were very anxious. They have been fearful, now they will be relieved.

"The health service chiefs have recognised our local needs.  

I will, though, be asking how extended hours at surgeries are meeting the needs both here, and in other communities."

If the now-revised plans are agreed to at a meeting of the CCG next week, it would mean only two walk in facilities would close: Gladstone in New Ferry (formerly known as Parkfield Medical Centre) and the Moreton Minor Injury & Illness Unit.

These will be replaced with access to urgent GP/Nurse appointments in local GP practices as part of the GP extended access scheme.

Documents outlining this proposals say there are are approximately 75 attendances per week at the Parkfield Unit. The number of appointments provided through the GP scheme will be 82 per week, and these will be still be delivered from the immediate locality.

As for Moreton, the number of urgent appointments provided through the GP scheme will be 64 per week which will also be delivered from the immediate locality.

The CCG say a high proportion of dressings activity are delivered from this facility, and are working with the Primary Care Networks to develop a specific planned/bookable dressing service within the West Wirral/Moreton area to ensure continuity of service for residents.

The other walk-ins that had been under threat of closure would remain open, although some will be subject to different opening times.

A document outlining the final recommendations says all-age walk in access will be avaible in each community hub during these times:

Wallasey – Victoria Central Hospital (8am-8pm) reduction of two hours from current provision

Birkenhead – Birkenhead Medical Centre (8am-8pm) increase of two hours from current provision

South Wirral – Eastham Clinic (12pm-8pm) no change from current provision

West Wirral – UTC at Arrowe Park Hospital Site (24-hours) increase of 10 hours from current provision

If the final recommendations are approved, they will cost £4,2m to deliver.

The changes are being carried out because of confusion with Wirral’s current walk-in system and a need to ease pressure on Arrowe park’s A&E department.

Cllr Chris Jones, cabinet member for adult care, health and wellbeing, said: “I am delighted our colleagues in the CCG have been able to listen to the views of local people and retain the walk-in centres which are so valued by the community.

“These updated proposals show that, even when under huge pressure, when our public services work together we can protect the NHS services which we all hold so dear.

"I am so pleased the public consultation feedback has led to such major change in the proposals, and hope Wirral residents will be as pleased and relieved as I am.”

The context for the review was the numerous urgent care services with different names, including Walk in Centres (WIC) and Minor Injury/Illness Units (MIU) which had different opening hours and services.

The CCG said that whilst these services were locally valued and recognised by communities, they did not provide consistency in service provision, meaning many patients defaulted to using the Accident and Emergency Department at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Dr Paula Cowan, chairwoman of NHS Wirral CCG said: “‘The report we have published reflects the work we have undertaken to consider the best way to ensure that Urgent Care services in Wirral continue to meet the needs of communities across Wirral.

“In developing the recommendations we have recognised and been responsive to what local people have told us.

"I want to thank everyone who gave us their views during the consultation.”