Petition launched for Glossop walk-in centre

A Glossop resident is calling for action to improve local healthcare services by campaigning for a new walk-in and urgent care centre in the town.

Jane Parkin has launched a petition to highlight the issue, sending copies directly to High Peak MP Jon Pearce and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting. Her message is clear: Glossop needs better access to healthcare, and it needs it now. 

Jane says the town was promised improved healthcare provision when Shire Hill Hospital closed, but that promise remains unfulfilled. She believes the George Street Primary Care Clinic could and should be developed into a fully operational walk-in centre to ease the growing pressures faced by Glossop residents. 

For Jane, the issue is personal. Her 96-year-old mother is currently battling macular degeneration, a condition that requires regular injections to prevent further sight loss. But instead of being treated locally, she must travel seven miles to Ashton for each appointment - a journey that is often far from straightforward. 

“The traffic is often extremely busy, and the route is plagued with constant hold-ups, making what should be a straightforward trip become an ordeal” Jane explains. “These injections, vital for her eyesight, could easily be administered at a local clinic here in Glossop.” 

And Jane’s mother is far from alone. Many elderly residents in the area face similar struggles when trying to access essential medical care. 

Jane believes that expanding the services at George Street Clinic would not only benefit older residents but help the whole community. A walk-in centre would ease the strain on surrounding hospitals and urgent care units, including those in Ashton, where patients from Glossop often end up due to a lack of local options. 

Healthcare studies consistently show that urgent care centres improve outcomes by providing faster treatment and reducing the burden on emergency services. Jane believes it’s high time that Glossop had access to these benefits too. 

She states “Transforming the George Street clinic into a walk-in urgent care centre would provide necessary care closer to home, enhancing community health services in Glossop. With proper funding and staffing, this centre could offer immediate medical assistance, minor injury treatment, vaccination services, and more – effectively decreasing travel times and ensuring prompt care for Glossop residents."

Jane is urging healthcare leaders to prioritise the needs of Glossop’s growing and aging population. She is calling on both local and national decision-makers to back the transformation of George Street Clinic into the facility the town was promised - one that meets the healthcare needs of today and the future. 

Public opinion on social media seems to support Jane’s views, with many Facebook users commenting on how they believe the George Street Clinic is currently underused. 

You can support Jane’s petition by visiting: https://www.change.org/p/open-glossop-clinic-as-an-urgent-care-centre