MP LYNNE Featherstone has called on NHS Haringey to halt plans to close a Hornsey walk-in clinic revealed this week.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP said closing the 8am to 8pm walk-in service at Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre, in Park Road, without consultation was "unacceptable".

The clinics treat patients in need of medical attention outside of normal GP practice hours, such as evenings and weekends or for those who do not want to make an appointment.

The scheme was a pilot provided by Queenswood Medical Practice that started in April and was due to end in July after which its success would be reviewed.

But health chiefs said there was no chance of the pilot continuing because it could not afford to fund the walk-in clinics.

NHS Haringey has extended the pilot for an additional month to give it time to break the news to patients.

In a letter to the MP, NHS Haringey chief executive Tracey Baldwin wrote: "We recognize this temporarily removes a service that has been of value to many patients. Under ordinary circumstances the preferred option would have been to continue the pilot whilst completing our evaluation.

"However, due to a rise in the payment required for the GP out of hours service this is no longer an option for the PCT."

Ms Featherstone has now written to health bosses to urging them to reconsider and ensure the voices of local people are considered.

The MP said: "I was extremely concerned to hear of the plans to close the walk-in centre at Hornsey Central. If you suddenly fall ill and need to see a doctor urgently, then the Park Road walk-in centre is a godsend.

"It seems like the plans have been sprung on local people and staff at the centre without looking at the consequences. That is just not acceptable and I hope that they will listen and reconsider."

Councillor David Winskill, Lib Dem health spokesman, said: "Hornsey Central was built to bring health services closer to local people and to relieve A&E departments, but this sudden decision risks having the opposite effect.

"Health bosses need to take a good hard look at how this will affect local health services, instead of making ill-thought through decisions."