09 November 2009

Reading Walk-in Health Centre, the newly opened Darzi Centre in the Broad Street Mall, central Reading has quickly proved popular with local people and is meeting a real local need, judging by the high volumes of patients it has treated since opening in early August.

The Centre, which is operated by Assura Reading LLP, has seen its attendance figures grow steadily and currently treats an average of 57 patients per day.

Common reasons for attending the Centre include help with contraception and the treatment of acute medical conditions such as sore throats, bladder infections and abdominal pain.

Medication queries are also commonly dealt with by the GPs and Nurses working in the Centre. Feedback from patients shows they are pleased with the way the Centre is operating and with the speed with which they are seen.

Reading Walk-in Health Centre is open 365 days a years from 8am to 8pm and is open to patients with or without an appointment. Most patients are booked in and seen by a clinician within 30 minutes and weekend openings are proving extremely popular.

The Centre is designed to provide full GP services and longer opening hours as part of NHS Berkshire West's plan to provide more choice and greater access to family doctors.

Patients can use the Centre while remaining registered with their current doctor. It is in addition to and complements the existing local GP surgeries.

NHS Berkshire West chief executive Charles Waddicor said: "The rate at which people are taking up what the Reading Walk-in Health Centre has to offer is confirmation that the area needs this kind of GP access.

"It offers patients not just extended access to GPs but also a real alternative to the inevitable waiting times at A&E by providing rapid access to treatment for minor ailments. This shows that NHS Berkshire West is leading changes to local health services."

The Centre is also seeing a steady flow of patients wishing to register and now has almost 300 patients on its list. Some of these new registrations are patients who have found it difficult to register elsewhere, while others find the convenient opening times and central location very attractive.

Dr Gerard D'Cruz a local GP and chairman of Assura Reading LLP, said: "The Centre has made a good start and patient numbers are gradually increasing. We are especially pleased with the positive feedback from patients, many of whom have expressed their appreciation to staff at the standard of service received.

"As a new GP-led Walk-in Health Centre, determined to deliver a quality service and be responsive to the needs of patients, we are keen to emphasise to all that we see this service as complementing existing services that are similarly focused.

"We are working with NHS Berkshire West to help address local health inequalities by improving access to services for all patients." 

ENDS

Reading Walk-in Health Centre
1st Floor
103 - 105 Broad Street Mall
Reading RG1 7QA
Tel: 0118 902 8300
Web: http://www.readingwalkinhealthcentre.nhs.uk