More information has been revealed over the current review of Walk in Centres and Urgent Care provision across Birmingham and Solihull. The review is being carried out by the Solihull and Birmingham Heath trust through the Urgent Care Joint Clinical Commissioning Group (UCJCCG). The review is a locally decided and set up one, it is not being done by the Government. So far a fact finding exercise has been carried out by an independent company where 2000 patients across the 8 walk in and urgent care centres in the Birmingham and Solihull area were interviewed. A number of meetings with the Health overview and Scrutiny committees in both Birmingham and Solihull have taken place and in January, February and March a number of local pre-consultation are planned to be arranged. It is expected the full 12 week consultation will then start after this.

Cllr Robert Alden (Conservative, Erdington Ward), who has been leading the fight to save the Erdington Walk in Centre, said “the latest briefing sent out by the Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull Communications and Engagement Service has shown that so far at least they are keen to hear what local communities have to say about how vital particular walk in centres are. This is good news for the Erdington Walk in Centre as locally we have a very strong story to tell thanks to the huge support local residents have given to the campaign and petition. Over the coming months we will be working hard to show the Birmingham, Solihull NHS Cluster, the UCJCCG and the City Council Scrutiny, who have an oversight role on the consultation just how vital the walk in centre is locally and why it should remain”.

Cllr Bob Beauchamp (Conservative, Erdington Ward), commented “what is vital now, going forward is that other political parties locally get behind the campaign and help push the case for keeping the Erdington Walk in Centre. The focus must be on saving the centre not political points scoring the centre is just too important to Erdington for that”.

Cllr Gareth Moore (Conservative, Erdington Ward), added “thank you to everyone who has signed the petition so far, if you haven’t yet, there is still time if you go to http://www.erdingtonconservatives.org.uk/contact and fill in the form, adding 'Walk in Centre petition' in the Message box".