Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson is backing a campaign to bring an NHS walk-in centre to Southport.

Mr Esterson called on residents in Formby and Southport to sign the petition, which was launched by Southport’s Labour Parliamentary candidate Liz Savage. Mr Esterson said a walk-in centre would offer vital extra health facilities for the people of Southport and Formby.

There is currently no walk-in centre in north Sefton, and children cannot be seen at Southport A&E – they must travel to Ormskirk for emergency treatment. There are walk-in centres in Ormskirk, Skelmersdale and Litherland.

The MP said: “Walk-in centres provide crucial extra capacity for the health service to treat people quickly when they need it, and they take pressure off A&E. Southport Hospital’s chief executive Silas Nicholls says he wants to see a walk-in centre in Southport. It would mean extra investment for NHS services in the town and would help to secure the hospital’s own future.

“A massive cut in the budget for the NHS and social care since 2010 has meant there is less money for services – ‘efficiency savings’ are just a cover for cuts. The NHS is struggling to meet need and that includes community services, especially social care for the elderly and people with disabilities.

“A walk-in centre can offer a far more efficient way to deal with less serious issues and helps to keep people out of A&E.

“It would mean children don’t have to travel 10 miles to Ormskirk to get treatment for minor injuries. I will be writing to the Secretary of State urging him to step in and provide the resources that are needed to make this happen.”

Walk-in centres offer treatment for minor ailments and injuries for patients who are away from home or whose regular GP service is not available.

Walk-in centres tend to be open for longer hours than GP surgeries and you don’t need an appointment to use one. They take pressure off accident and emergency services by dealing with more minor conditions and injuries.

Labour’s Southport Parliamentary candidate Liz Savage, who started the petition online, added: “Southport desperately needs a walk-in centre. I’ve spoken to many residents who really struggle to get a doctor’s appointment. This leads to an added strain on the A&E department at the hospital. I really want to ensure that any such centre has basic diagnostic treatment that could lead to minor injuries being dealt with, without the need for children to have to go to Ormskirk to be treated.”

The petition can be found at at https://www.change.org/p/north-sefton-ccg-and-southport-and-ormskirk-hospital-trust-a-walk-in-centre-at-southport-hospital, or by searching “change.org Southport walk in centre”.