Vigil to be held at Accrington Victoria Hospitail to highlight possible closure threat

This Saturday night, 9th of November 6pm, will see a vigil held at Accrington Victoria Hospital to help raise awareness that this vital Walk In centre must remain open.  The East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning group is at the moment attempting to close Accrington Victoria hospital out of hours walk in clinic. A service that has dealt with over 35,000 cases last year alone. They are arguing that this service could be replaced by residents using their doctors surgeries. 

Unfortunately these services are massively over subscribed in Hyndburn and is almost impossible to receive a same day appointment. The only other alternative would be to travel to Blackburn Royal to use the A&E department. A department that is already suffering under the pressure of being East Lancashire's primary A&E department. Cllr Clare Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, has been leading a campaign to stop the closure of this service. 

Councillor Pritchard said "we have over 5000 signatures backing the saving of this Walk-in centre, this vigil will again highlight how the majority of residents feel about this proposed closure, to now send potential thousands of patients to both A&E and their own Doctors would but yet more strain on a service struggling to cope in an area that is ranked one of the most deprived in both Lancashire and the whole North west"

This news also contradicts what central government are claiming that they are reducing waiting times and, as announced at the Conservative Party Conference, that out of hours surgeries would be granted funding with pilots launched early next year. Yet they are now looking to close one such site in East Lancashire already providing this service. 

So please join together on the 9th of November 6pm at Accrington Victoria Hospital to send a message that it's "Hands of Hyndburn's Healthcare"