THE likely location of a new walk-in health centre in Worcester has been revealed.

The former offices at Farrier House in Farrier Street are set to house the new £1 million-a-year GP-led health centre, if consent is granted by Worcester City Council’s planning committee on Thursday.

The centre will allow anybody to walk in off the street and receive GP services there and then, without the need for an appointment, between 8am and 8pm seven days a week.

Nigel Higenbottam, premises development manager at Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: “This would be an ideal location for the GP-led health centre, as it is in such a central location.

“It would be convenient for all Worcester’s visitors, commuters and residents – all of whom would be able to visit the centre on a walk-in basis from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, to access GP and primary care services if they needed to. It is close to Foregate Street Station. It is on the bus routes into the city and within walking distance of a number of car parks.”

The Government-backed scheme has proved controversial locally, being attacked by some local GPs as “privatisation by the back door”, because the contract for managing the centre is to be out to tender by the PCT.

This means there is a chance it could ultimately be run by a private company – though the services will still remain free for patients to use.

A spokesman for the PCT said that while the location remains subject to change – the successful bidder may wish to house it elsewhere – Farrier House is the PCT’s location of choice.

An application to change the use of the building from offices to a health centre will be determined by city planners next week. The council’s head of urban environment John Wrightson is recommending the scheme be approved, stating that the benefits of a new health centre outweigh the loss of office space.

His report states: “Certain areas within the city have been designated as safeguarded employment areas. The application site is within one of these designated areas and the proposed use would initially appear to be at odds with the current designation. However, the proposed use does have material benefits for the city, which in my opinion would outweigh the loss of offices.”

The walk-in centre is expected to be up and running before the end of March.