CAMPAIGNERS hit the road to protest against plans for the closure of Accrington Victoria Hospital walk-in GP centre.

Banners and posters were waved on Saturday morning as protesters took part in 5k and 10k walks against the closure, scheduled for June 17.

Kim Whitehead, of the Save Accrington Walk-In Centre group, has vowed to keep on fighting until the final day.

She said: “We have got a few weeks left to go and we have got to keep up the momentum of the campaign.

“We will give everything and have a final push to save the centre and try to convince the bosses that it should not close.

“It is a vital service that is going to be missed and people still don’t really know to go when they have issues.”

Cllr Noordad Aziz believes the closure will have knock-on effects on East Lancashire’s health services.

He said: “It is going to add pressure on Royal Blackburn Hospital which has some of the worst waiting times in the area.

“Chorley is another area which is struggling and if people cannot speak to a doctor they will just go to accident and emergency departments.”

John Bannister, director of operations East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We would like to take this opportunity to assure people that all our services, including the minor injuries unit at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital remain unaffected by the Commissioner’s decision to withdraw the health access centre. That service is a primary GP service for patients with minor ailments. We therefore do not anticipate the closure will have a significant impact on the trust’s A&E department.

“Arrangements are in place for extra provision of medical care, including additional GP access in the locality, and we’d remind people that local pharmacies are also an important source of advice and treatment for minor illness.”