After her Urgent Care Centre Parliamentary Petition received more than 1,000 signatures, Rachel has submitted her petition to the House of Commons.
On Wednesday (May 23rd), Rachel presented her petition to the parliamentary authorities and, during her speech, she spoke about how the petition clearly demonstrates how Redditch residents want the GP-led Urgent Care Centre at the Alex operational as soon as possible.
Rachel launched her petition back in February due to her frustration that local health bosses still hadn’t opened this new service at the Alex, despite promising the Urgent Care Centre to residents last year.
Her petition asked residents to join Rachel in calling on local health bosses to bring forward, without further delay, plans for the promised implementation of the Urgent Care Centre.
This vital service was said to be key to the proposed model of Acute services in Redditch, according to the local Clinical Commissioning Group, after paediatric care was centralised to Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Yet, nearly a year later, the GP-led Urgent Care Centre still hasn’t opened.
The GP-led Urgent Care Centre will work alongside the A&E at the Alex, and will treat adults and children with minor or moderate illnesses and injuries. The opening of the Urgent Care Centre will not result in the further downgrading of A&E.
The petition Rachel has submitted calls on the House of Commons to urge the Government to press the local health authorities in Redditch and Worcester to publish their detailed plans for the implementation of the Urgent Care Centre.
Rachel said: “After the inaction from local health bosses to deliver on their promise of opening the Urgent Care Centre at the Alex, I was determined to demonstrate strong local support for this vital service.
“Thank you to the more than 1,000 residents who signed my petition, I am very grateful for your support.
“Your support clearly demonstrates that Redditch wants this new service to open as soon as possible as it will give parents the peace of mind that their children can be treated at their local hospital.
“After submitting my petition, the House of Commons will now get the Government to put pressure on local health bosses to open this vital service without further delay.
“Local health bosses it is now over to you. You promised this Urgent Care Centre to the people of Redditch, now get on and deliver it, without delay!”