A petition has been launched to save a walk-in medical centre after it was announced it would shut at the end of the month.

The facility at Balmoral Healthy Living Centre, in Balmoral Gardens, Gillingham, was first earmarked for closure two years ago after questions were raised over its use.

Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has now confirmed it will be incorporated into the Urgent Treatment Centre at Medway Maritime Hospital in Windmill Street.

But Labour spokesman for health Cllr Teresa Murray said the decision was at odds with the NHS' wider plan to move services into the community.

In recent months dermatology and learning difficulties testing have been turfed out of the hospital and a vision of 'community health hubs' has been talked about for a long time.

She said: “I’m suspicious and nervous of any picture of reducing services in Medway.”

She added concerns she and other campaigners raised two years ago over capacity at A&E and hospital parking charges were batted away at the time and she has yet to be reassured.

While the UTC may only be a mile away, it was a long journey for people who are often particularly vulnerable and “disgraceful” parking fees just made the service less accessible, she said.

Others vented their frustration upon hearing the news, with many citing the fact the walk-in centre, which only opened six years ago, was hailed as a solution to mounting pressure on the hospital's A&E department and GP's, with this decision risking reigniting that issue.

The CCG has said an initiative to open up more GP appointments at weekends and evenings by allowing patients to travel to other surgeries will mitigate any negative impact of the closure.

With first-hand experience Cllr Murray was positive about the scheme, which was launched late last year, but remained concerned it won't help the most vulnerable members of the community who are unable to travel elsewhere for appointments.

She added: "Because it's been two years I think they feel we will have forgotten about it and won't be opposed to it any more but that certainly isn't the case.

"Why close it now? When the community hub is up and running then maybe that would be the time but it doesn't make any sense to do it now."

A petition against the decision has been set up and can be viewed here.

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