New opening hours for Sidwell Street walk-in centre

The opening hours of the NHS walk-in centre in Sidwell Street, Exeter, have been temporarily reduced as of yesterday.

The opening hours will now be 8am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The NHS Trust has been forced to reduce the opening hours due to staffing issues, including long-term sickness and difficulties in recruiting suitably qualified staff.

The change in opening hours has been supported by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group.

Kate Lyons, the Trust’s director of operations, said:

“We apologise for any inconvenience the temporary reduction in opening hours may cause."

“Patient safety is paramount and, as such, it is essential we provide a service with appropriately skilled and experienced staff."

“The new opening hours will remain in place until the staffing issues have been resolved and we can operate the service safely and effectively.”

When the walk-in centre in Sidwell Street is closed, local people are advised to:

• Contact their GP surgery (8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays)
• Visit their local pharmacy
• Call the NHS 111 service, for those who need advice or medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency
• If it’s an emergency, call 999 The walk-in centre at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital remains open from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.