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14th February 2023
Cross-party support for city's threatened NHS walkin centre Jamie Bryson News Editor
A popular NHS walk-in centre in Norwich is under threat of closure as its contract enters its final year. In a recent review, the region's health commissioners have suggested locals could gain better value for money through alternative care means. The facility - located on Roen Road - provides various services, including sexual health care, contraceptive advice, and minor injury, infection and illness treatments. Following the suggestion, a survey by Healthwatch Norfolk revealed that more than two-thirds of the facilities users regard their experience as positive. While the service continues to operate at a loss, the report states the facility offers "excellent value for money", going on to highlight, “Feedback from existing service users and walk-in centre staff show that the centre fulfils an essential role in easing pressure on other NHS services, such as A&E and local GP practices, at a critical time for public health provision”. The report concludes with several recommendations for potential improvements in the service's value for money. These include the consideration of an emergency dentist and a mental health clinic, along with creating telephone and virtual appointments for those in remote areas. The issue has attracted crossparty support amongst local politicians, with Norwich North MP - the Conservative, Chloe Smith, stating, "Walk-in centre services in Norwich have served thousands of people over many years. When A&E and GP services are particularly under pressure, it would seem like a strange time to stop a simple way for people to see a doctor when they need to”.
Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, Alice Macdonald, said, “At a time when the NHS is in crisis and patients are facing record waiting times, we need to preserve the Walk-in Centre, which provides essential services to so many people in our area” and added, “A recent survey I carried out on GP and dentist access showed many people are already struggling to get GP appointments when they need them. Closing the centre would only increase the pressure on GP practices as well as on A&E. I’ve already been contacted by people in Norwich North who are really concerned about the threat looming over this invaluable service.” The debate comes as the region’s NHS services continue to experience significant pressures - not only in patient demand but also in staff retention.
County Council to explore eco ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ Cameron Noble News Writer
Norfolk county council has agreed to work with authorities and transport leads to exploring the creation of modern, 20-minute neighbourhoods. The idea that anyone in a neighbourhood can access services within a 20-minute walk, with no need to get into a car, has already gained popularity in the USA, Australia, and Scandinavia. Those living in the community should be able to walk just 10 minutes to their nearest shops, schools, healthcare, and parks, with another brisk 10-minute walk back home. Scotland is looking to implement these neighbourhoods on a national scale. In Australia, the Victorian government wants to make these neighbourhoods a reality for everyone by the year 2050. 20-minute neighbourhoods focus on improving infrastructure, where well-functioning public transport services, cycling and walking routes and green spaces are prioritised. The concept also recommends a range of
affordable, modern and diverse housing options. Lana Hempsall, Conservative County councillor for Acle, Norfolk, initially proposed the idea of 20-minute neighbourhoods, which saw the support of 48 councillors, with none voting against it. She stated, "Typically, a 20-minute neighbourhood approach should help to disperse investment, jobs and services more widely across a town or city rather than just focusing on the centre. Making sure that neighbourhoods are compact and fully accessible, as well as containing a mix of different shops, services and amenities, will make it easier for more people to move around on foot, by wheelchair, by bike, by bus or other non-car means.” Whilst cars are not banned from the neighbourhoods, the idea is
being. Twenty minutes of exercise a day is widely considered to improve your general mood and bring down the risk of diseases such as heart disease; with the neighbourhood's design allowing for all essential services to be within a walkable or cyclable distance, members of the communities could be more active.
that they will not be needed for everyday life. 24% of UK emissions were from the exhaust pipes of vehicles in 2020. The reduction in car usage would inevitably have a positive effect on the environment, the concept suggests.
Areas of Norfolk where major development is planned, where the 20-minute neighbourhood concept could be explored, include a proposed 'railway village' near North Elmham and in Attleborough, Thetford or the Rackheath area North East of Norwich.
Furthermore, it has been suggested the policies would also encourage enhanced human health and well-
Heated over East devolution Eleanor Radford Senior News Writer
Newly released figures published by NHS Digital reveal that around 320 staff resigned from Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust in 2021-22 - the highest figure since records began ten years ago. Nationally, 140,000 staff members resigned in 2022 – an increase of 41,000
The issue of devolution - the transfer of power from central government to a local or regional administration - has been a heavily debated topic in recent years.
from 2021. Industry trade unions have suggested poor pay and a lack of mental and physical support are to blame for the sudden shortage, with Pat Cullen - general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, stating, "Staff are leaving, realising they can get similar or better pay in supermarkets and retail without the stress of the job, and poor pay is creating severe staff shortages and making patients unsafe”. The report on the future of the walk-in centre by Healthwatch Norfolk can be accessed via their website at www. healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk/ reports/. If you are a Norwich North constituent (check at parliament.uk/constituencies), you can complete Alice Macdonald’s survey on Doctor and Dentist Access at www. alicemacdonald.org/survey/.
as Norfolk, more of a say over spending and decision-making via a locally elected mayor. However, this has caused tension for some local councillors.
Over the past decade, the Westminster government has wanted to give local areas, such
When a mayor was first due to be elected for East Anglia, six years ago, local councils in Norfolk and Suffolk didn’t want to give over some of their powers, so only Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ended up taking on the new mayor. Even when a compromise of having devolution for a single county, along with a council leader instead of a mayor being put forward, some councils in Norfolk still rejected it. The four councils against the proposed devolution are South Norfolk, Broadland, Breckland and North Norfolk. They argue that having a directly elected council leader means Norfolk would have Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Dr Rosalind Bark, UEA professor in the school of Environmental Sciences, told Concrete: “It is exciting that the idea of a 20-minute neighbourhood is being discussed in Norfolk. Arguably, Norwich is already a 15-minute city for those residents living in the city. The popularity of the concept of the 20-minute neighbourhood around the world suggests that many people would like to live in such communities.”
debate Anglia proposals
less power and money than it would the Labour parliamentary Candidate if it had a newly elected mayor of a for Norwich North, Alice Macdonald, new separate authority. told us, “We have heard a lot of talk from the Government about John Fuller, leader of the South levelling up. Norfolk council, argued that “ The directly elected leader is very But, as a recent report highlighted, much second best without any real in the East, there is a very long powers for planning, housing, the way to go. The East of England has environment, or the integration of received the third lowest amount health and social care benefits or of levelling up money in the growth. A directly elected leader country...We must stop this ‘Hunger places all the executive powers of Games’ style system of pitching community against community. the county council and its budgets What we need is real devolution of in the hand of one individual. We power and sustainable investment want the best deal for Norfolk." This in local Government. The current disagreement between the county devolution deal promises £20 and local level councils has led to million a year for Norfolk, yet this the four local councils threatening year alone, Norfolk County Council legal action. However, despite this is facing a £60 million budget gap. threat of legal action, the county Even Conservative councillors have council have continued with the said this is a poor deal. In contrast, Westminster deal, with council Labour has set out radical proposals leader Andrew Proctor stating, “We for the biggest-ever transfer of ought to be excited about it for our power from Westminster to the residents, not trying to stop it from British People. We will give people happening.” He, and others on the the resources and backing to make county council, believe pursuing their full contribution, make sure this deal is just the first step- “You communities don’t have to go don’t get a utopia on a plate.” The cap-in-hand to Whitehall for small Council agreed, 37 to 22, that the crumbs of their own money back and cabinet would proceed with the build tailored economic strategies deal and that arrangements would for each area of the country”. be considered around December 2023. If the deal is agreed upon, the first election for a directly elected Photo: Pixabay Speaking exclusively to Concrete, council leader will be held in May 2024.
