ByJosh Jackman, Josh Jackman
Manchester Jewish Representative Council is opposing plans to close an important health centre for the community.
Bury Clinical Commissioning Group is proposing to shut the walk-in centre in Prestwich, eight months after an NHS-funded survey highlighted its benefits to the Charedi community and even recommended the opening of an additional walk-in clinic in Salford.
Rep council chair Jonny Wineberg - who conducted the survey with psychologist Dr Sandi Mann - presented a motion to the council, which was passed unanimously.
In consequence, MJRC officers "will be writing to the CCG expressing the view of council that the Prestwich Walk-in-Centre should remain open as it is a well-designed and well-used service".
Mr Wineberg said the CCG proposal, which would see the Prestwich centre close in March, would "be bad for the Jewish community.
"We have research that shows it meets a need. So to close it and tell people to go to accident and emergency doesn't pass muster. It's not a good idea.
"It would have been better if they had engaged with us and then made the proposal. But there is a consultation and we will try very hard to make sure the community has every opportunity to take part in it."
The closure plan has been defended by Dr Victoria Moyle, lead GP for urgent care at Bury CCG. "Our review has found that walk-in centre services were created at a time 12 years ago when there was a very different health and social care landscape in the borough. Already the centres are seeing less and less patients attend."
People can submit feedback to the proposal on the CCG's website.