11 December 2009

Reading Walk-in Health Centre, the popular new Darzi centre in Broad Street Mall, central Reading has begun taking on new staff to meet growing local demand and to cope with the expected Christmas rush.

Since opening in August of this year, almost 7,000 patients have used the walk-in GP and nurse services and over 550 have registered with the health centre.

As a result of this increased demand, and with Christmas just around the corner, three additional nurse practitioners have been recruited to boost the existing healthcare team. Two of these will be in place in time to cope with the anticipated increased demand for Christmas and the third will join the team in January.

Reading Walk-in Health Centre, which is run by Assura Reading LLP on behalf of NHS Berkshire West, will be open throughout the Christmas period, even when the shops in Broad Street Mall are closed. The Centre will even be open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day from 8am to 8pm offering patients access to a nurse or a doctor with or without an appointment.

Patients do not have to be registered with the Centre to be seen and can use the Centre while remaining registered with their current doctor. It is in addition to and complements the existing local GP surgeries.

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.

Dr Gerard D’Cruz, a local GP and chairman of Assura Reading LLP, said: "The growth in numbers of people choosing to use the Centre clearly reflects the need, by the local population, for a GP service offering more convenient same day appointments. We are delighted to receive very complimentary feedback from many who have needed to visit the Centre for medical attention.

"It is pleasing to be on target with our patient numbers for a service that has started from scratch. This is down to the hard work and professionalism of staff in the Centre, some of whom have put in very long days. The extra staff being employed will help us to manage the busiest periods better, keeping waiting times to 30 minutes or less.

"Our aim is to deliver high quality medical care that is both conveniently and easily accessible to people living, working or even just visiting Reading, thereby easing the strain on our GP out of hours service and local A&E department, where waits often exceed three or four hours."

NHS Berkshire West chief executive Charles Waddicor said: "The Reading Walk-in Health Centre is without doubt a great success story in a very short time.

"The Centre provides a range of services which mean that patients can have access to first class facilities any day of the week. Alongside contact points such as NHS Direct and local pharmacies, the Reading Walk-in Health Centre ensures that people can receive advice and treatment in the best place at a time of their choosing."

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

• 09 November 2009 - New Reading Walk-in Health Centre proves a hit with patients