THOUSANDS of residents have reacted angrily to the news that both of the borough’s walk-in centres are facing closure.

It was revealed last week that Bury Urgent Treatment Centre and Prestwich Walk-in Centre could both be shut down as part of a radical plan from NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group to reorganise their urgent-care provisions.

An online petition set up by the Bury Labour Party opposing the plans has gained more than 3,000 signatures online and a further 400 at a street stall in Prestwich’s Longfield Centre last weekend.

Local councillors and party campaigners have enlisted the support of Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s candidate to become the first elected Greater Manchester mayor, who visited the urgent-care centre — based at the Moorgate Primary Care Centre — on Friday.

The Labour group will also be moving an emergency motion at next week’s full council meeting, demanding that the CCG reverses its position and calling on the government to allocate more funding to Bury CCG.

Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of the council, said: “We have been amazed by the public response to our petition. This is the first time that people have seen the impact of austerity on our precious health services.

“We predicted two years ago that unless Bury CCG was properly funded there would be a devastating impact on local services and sadly that seems to be case now.

“Our motion will demand that the government immediately take steps to provide the funding needed to the Bury CCG to keep these vital services open.

“We will not stop campaigning until the services are saved.”

In 2014, the Bury Times reported that Bury CCG was the sixth most underfunded in the country and faced a shortfall of £60 million over three years.

The CCG is currently carrying out an engagement process with residents over the plans, which could see both centres close in March, 2017.

Dr Victoria Moyle, the CCG’s lead GP for urgent care, said that the current urgent-care system had left patients confused over where to seek treatment and that the £800,000 funding associated with both walk-in centres would be redirected elsewhere.

However, local residents who have signed the petition have been left dismayed at the potential closure of “vital” services.

Petra Moklak, of Prestwich, said: “The walk-in centres are vital in times of stretched A&E departments, never getting a GP appointment, and services like midwives at Sure Start centres closing down.

“I have needed the walk-in centre for all the above reasons and more a few times for myself, my husband and two small children recently.

“It has always very busy at the Prestwich one and I cannot understand where these people should go otherwise.”

Julie Reynolds, of Bury, said: “Bury needs these centres. We have been told to use these facilities instead of going to A&E, especially when our doctors are closed.”

Residents are being encouraged to sign the petition in another street-stall event near The Rock from noon to 2pm on Saturday.

Harry Catherall, of Bury, said the centres should remain open.

He said: “The Bury walk-in centre is a great facility which reduces pressure on A&E and GP services and should be kept open.

“I have used the walk-in centre a number of times as have members of my family. Make the savings elsewhere.”

To sign the petition, click here