A health walk-in center may be shut down, and about 6,000 people have signed a petition opposing it.
For its Rouen Road walk-in center in Norwich, the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) is weighing three options.
The center has "incredible support," according to Tom Bristow, who organized the petition against closure.
The care board said 1,800 people responded to its request for feedback on its proposals.
In the spring of 2024, the facility's current GP contracts expire.
The day after I started the petition, Mr. Bristow, editor of The Norwich Seeker, was talking to a friend about it when he said, "Oh yeah, the walk-in center saved my wife's life and child's life.". About it, everyone has a tale. ".
Sadie Parker, the primary care director for the ICB, stated that the organization has received a "phenomenal response" to its consultation, which is still open until March 26.
Ms. Parker stated, "I haven't seen a response to a consultation like this before," adding, "I am really pleased with the level of engagement.".
Walk-in clinics were created 13 years ago as a component of NHS policy, according to Ms. Parker, and "obviously things have changed a lot since then.".
As the contract was coming to an end, she claimed that the ICB wanted to review the provision.
She acknowledged worries regarding the potential effects of closure on the emergency department at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, adding, "We have really carefully reviewed what activity is being undertaken at the walk-in center.".
The center "offers excellent value for money but is operating at a loss," according to a Healthwatch Norfolk report on it.
The losses for the last financial quarter were £47,384.48 (to treat 2,071 additional patients) plus an additional £32,809.92 that was not paid for patients at the health center.
