A walk-in centre at a GP surgery is closing at the end of this month despite ongoing concerns that this will remove a “vital” service.

Brent and Barnet Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) agreed to end the service at Cricklewood Health Centre as part of a wider policy to provide greater “access to care” through GP ‘hubs’.

The decision was announced in February and the centre will close its doors on June 30.

It comes following consultations with the public and meetings with local authority committees in Autumn 2019.

At a Brent Council meeting last year, Dr Jahan Mahmoodi, a clinical director at Brent CCG, explained that the nationwide direction of travel is to close walk-in centres and promote hubs.

“The evidence suggests patients are not seeking walk-in access but are seeking primary care in other ways,” he said.

“The Government has mandated increased access to primary care in a more joined up way that doesn’t involve the fragmentation associated with walk-in centres.”

However, Cllr Ahmad Shahzad, of Mapesbury ward, said there are many residents who rely on the current system.

“I have spoken to so many people who say they depend on these services, they are absolutely vital. We, as a local authority, should be supporting them,” he said.

Councillors on the Barnet side also suggested that removing the service could make it more difficult for residents to receive medical care.

But the CCGs assured those who use the centre that a “wide range of alternative health care” is available, while the GP services at the site will remain.

They urged those living in Brent, who have not already, to register with a GP in the borough and reiterated the importance of utilising the ‘111’ advice phone number.