SOUTHEND’S walk-in medical centre at St Luke’s is a much-needed facility, but its days could be numbered, at least in its present form.

The centre’s controlling body, the Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, has listed three options for its future – the status quo, a new site, or relocation to Southend Hospital’s A&E department.

The commissioning group favours the third of these choices, but from the perspective of the public, the mere idea of moving the centre to A&E could seem decidedly odd, bearing in mind the significant pressures on the hospital.

On the face of it, the commissioning group seems to have come up with a plan that could work.

It will use its staff to change the way A&E works.

Patients with minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, will be better directed to the most appropriate place in the department, taking pressure off the teams giving treatment and help to those with more serious conditions.

For some, housing the services in the walk-in centre at A&E is a risk.

It potentially means more people attending the hospital when they do not need to be there.

Bearing in mind the parking difficulties at the hospital, this could be an issue.

But locating these services at A&E certainly gives patients a single point of contact if they need help.

Staff based in A&E directing patients to care and treatment that is appropriate to them is crucial in streamlining the system and ensuring patients get the attention they need.