A walk-in centre is to close almost two years after the idea was first mooted.

For six years patients have been able to turn up at Balmoral Healthy Living Centre, in Balmoral Gardens, Gillingham, to access advice and treatment without an appointment.

It was intended as a service for those who were too ill to wait to see a GP but whose condition wasn't serious enough to warrant a visit to A&E.

But at a meeting in August 2017 it was explained half of people were still heading straight to hospital and 95% of those showing up at the walk-in centre were doing so as they couldn't get an appointment.

It was proposed the service would be shut and incorporated into the Urgent Treatment Centre at Medway Maritime Hospital, which opened at the end of last year.

Now, almost two years on, Medway Clinical Commission Group (CCG) has confirmed the centre will close on Sunday, June 30.

It follows a consultation service with patients on how to make the best use of resources.

The CCG's associate director of Secondary Care Commissioning Nikki Teesdale said: “We are advising residents to make use of all other options available in Medway, both in and out of hours.

“This was not a decision taken lightly – we undertook thorough engagement with the public and it has been agreed that this is the most effective way to make sure patients are cared for appropriately.”

The CCG is encouraging patients who would have used the walk-in centre to make use of other services, such as an increased number of GP appointments announced last year.

Under that scheme evening and weekend appointments were made available by allowing people to see any available doctor.

Pharmacists are also able to offer advise on many minor ailments, while the UTC at Medway is open 24 hours a day and is approximately one mile from the former walk-in centre.

The CCG confirmed the decision was nothing to do with ongoing plans to merge services at five GPs, including Balmoral.

The surgeries — which also include Twydall, The Sunlight Centre, St Mary's Island and the Pentagon — were taken over by DMC last year.

Plans to merge them are on hold.

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