THE closure of a walk-in centre has sparked an increase in the number of patients visiting A&E.

The NHS service at St Luke’s Health Centre, in Pantile Avenue, Southend - which treated 1,681 patients a month - shut six months ago.

At the time, Southend Clinical Commissioning Group insisted the closure would not impact on A&E - with a new unit set up at Southend Hospital to separate emergency and walk-in patients.

However, a report due to be presented to Southend Council’s policy and resources scrutiny committee later this month highlights a “relentless rise” in A&E attendances.

Tory councillor Meg Davidson, a Southend Hospital governor, said minor ailments - such as coughs and colds - are escalating as patients are no longer seeking help from a walk-in centre.

She said: “I asked about the effects of the closure of the walk-in centre at St Luke’s Health Centre earlier this year.

“I was told that patients presenting at A&E are now seen initially by a GP based in the department.

“Currently 15 to 20 patients a day are being redirected elsewhere, such as to their own GP.

“I was also told that the hospital has found that some patients who previously would have attended the walk-in centre seem to be delaying seeking help until their condition has worsened.

“They are then presenting at A&E.

“It is early days for the new arrangements, but if this proves to be a regular occurrence, it will need to be addressed.”

According to hospital board papers, there has been a six per cent rise in A&E attendances in 2015/16 compared to the previous year.

This has led operations being cancelled, with the hospital consequently losing £7million.

Jon Findlay, chief operating officer at Southend Hospital said: “We have seen a steady rise in the number of people attending our emergency department throughout this year and did see a slight additional rise in attendances following the closure of the walk-in centre.”

Dr José Garcia Lobera, chair of NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, said the number of people visiting A&E has increased nationally.

He said: “The increase in activity we have seen at Southend’s A&E department has been a continued upward trend over the past few years and is not a result of the walk-in service ending in April this year.

“There is a new navigation service at the front door of A&E which ensures patients are seen by the right health professionals.

“Overall, people in Southend have been very supportive of our efforts to make sure the A&E department is kept for patients with a serious or life-threatening condition.”