NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced its decision to keep the Norwich Walk-in Centre open. Changes being considered to the GP Out of Hours Service and the Vulnerable Adults will also not be made.

Ed Garratt OBE, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: “The strategic direction of the ICB is to increase ‘neighbourhood’ level services and improve access to primary care.

“This is in line with the government’s 10 Year Plan, which is due to be published this summer, and will describe a national shift of resources from acute to community services, treatment to prevention and analogue to digital services.

“It therefore makes logical sense to end this consultation and take stock of plans once the 10 Year Plan has been published.

“I would like to thank the community and stakeholders for their input into the consultation.”

Sadie Parker, Director of Primary Care for the ICB, added: “The situation has changed since we started the consultation. There is going to be a greater emphasis on developing a neighbourhood health service and we are expecting further national guidance on this, which along with the 10 Year Plan, will help inform how we plan for and provide local health services.

“The ICB will now put in place new contracts for the Norwich Walk-in Centre and the Vulnerable Adults Service, as the current contracts are nearing their end. The GP Out of Hours Service will continue as it is, because the contract is not coming to an end soon.”