'˜Low activity' will see Portsmouth GP practice close on Sundays

Guildhall Walk Healthcare Centre will be shut on Sundays from July 31.

It comes as the practice, which used to be a walk-in centre before the facilities moved to St Mary’s Hospital in Milton, only had on average two to three pre-booked appointments and 10 to 12 walk-ins on Sundays.

On weekdays, the centre averages 40 to 60 pre-booked appointments a day and 45 to 55 walk-ins.

Now, the surgery will be open between 8am and 6.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8am until 8pm on Mondays and Fridays and 8am until midday on Saturdays.

In a report, Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group said: ‘We have reviewed the activity and utilisation of the service at weekends with the practice and activity on a Sunday is particularly low.

‘The practice is not able to offer the same multidisciplinary mix of staff as provided during the rest of the week.’

The centre currently has 7,228 registered patients.