§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the Loughborough walk-in centre; and if he will make a statement. [18476]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department has put in place systems to gather monthly management information on the operation of national health service walk-in centres, which are three-year pilot initiatives. In addition, it has commissioned an 18-month national evaluation of walk-in centres, which is being carried out by the University of Bristol. This began on 1 June 2000 and is due to report at the end of this year.
In Loughborough, general practitioner and primary care group (PCG) support was achieved on the basis that the impact of Loughborough NHS walk-in centre on local GP services would be assessed. To achieve a realistic and effective evaluation, a comparison of the "before" and "after" opening positions was considered essential.
Therefore, data have been collected by Leicestershire health authority since January 2000 until the end of June 2001. This data are in the final stages of being analysed by the local health community and it is expected to be published in a report scheduled for presentation to the local PCG some time early in the new year.
Early indications are that the walk-in centre has rapidly become an integral part of the local health community, which is greatly valued by local GPs, patients and other stakeholders.
§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of(a) capital and (b) revenue funding he has made available to Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust for the Loughborough walk-in centre. [18475]
§ Jacqui SmithThe level of capital and revenue funding for Loughborough national health service walk-in centre since it was established and opened on 3 July 2000 is set out in the table.
£ 2000–01 2001–02 capital 61,000 — Revenue 363,000 471,000