OneNorwich Practices, which operates the Norwich walk-in centre, has announced that it will be closing down by the end of the year due to financial difficulties. Despite this, NHS officials have reassured the public that the services provided by the company will not be disrupted, as new providers will be sought to continue them. However, there are now calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the company’s financial troubles.
Lucy Galvin, a representative of the Green Party on Norwich City Council, has demanded an inquiry into the situation. Concerns have been raised regarding the chaotic nature of the company’s board, lack of clear financial pathways, high staff turnover, and poor management. Galvin believes that the directors of OneNorwich should be held accountable for the collapse and wants answers about when the problems were first known.
Norwich South MP Clive Lewis has also expressed concerns about the impact of the closure on patients and has called for more clarity on the matter. OneNorwich currently operates the GP practice on Rouen Road, the walk-in centre, Norwich’s vulnerable adults service, and provides healthcare access for refugees. NHS officials have reassured the public that these services will continue after the closure, as new providers are being sought. Lewis, along with Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Norwich North, Alice Macdonald, is urgently seeking reassurances from the relevant authorities.
The closure of OneNorwich Practices has raised questions about the state of healthcare provision in the area. It has been revealed that the company’s financial position was so dire that it could only afford to continue operations until the end of the year. NHS officials have assured the public that new providers will be found to continue the services, but concerns remain about the stability and management of these services. The call for a full inquiry into the circumstances leading to the company’s financial difficulties highlights the need for transparency and accountability in healthcare management.
