Opening times cut at Shirley's NHS centre - with more cuts possible

And they say they cannot rule out further cutbacks at the city’s other two nurse-led walk-in centres at Bitterne Health Centre and the Royal South Hants Hospital.

It is part of a major review being carried out by Southampton Primary Care Trust, responsible for running local healthcare services.

The walk-in centre in Howard’s Grove, Shirley, currently open seven days a week from 8am to 9.30pm, will now open weekdays only, from 2pm until 9.30pm.

At weekends and bank holidays it will continue to be open from 8am until 9.30pm.

Health bosses have said there will be no job losses, as staff will be redeployed to other walk-in centres.

The future of Shirley walk-in centre, which deals with minor infections, rashes, superficial cuts, strains and sprains, stomach upsets, blood pressure checks and emergency contraception, will be reviewed in six months’ time.

The trust said its decision to cut the centre’s opening times was part of its review to ensure that services were providing the “best value for money”.

Bob Deans, chief executive of Southampton City PCT, said patients could now benefit increasingly from extended GP opening hours, the nurse led telephone advice service NHS Direct, and advice from pharmacists.

He added: “Our GPs in Southampton are also opening longer, and services such as NHS Direct and advice from pharmacists are here to help patients with non-serious or life threatening conditions.”

Meanwhile Southampton PCT is currently piloting a project involving city GPs treating minor injuries and other non-serious conditions at Southampton General Hospital’s emergency department.

The move is designed to ease the pressure on emergency department doctors and nurses so that they can deal with more serious cases.