Walk-in hours cut at NHS urgent treatment centres

NHS bosses have announced a reduction in walk-in opening hours at four urgent treatment centres (UTCs) in Derbyshire.

From Monday, walk-ins will no longer be available between 17:00 BST and 20:00 at UTCs in Ripley, Ilkeston and Matlock, and will be appointment only via NHS 111. Walk-ins will also no longer be available in Buxton after 16:00.

Derbyshire Community Health Services said the changes were being introduced to "help manage increasing demand and ensure patients are assessed and directed to the most appropriate service".

Labour MP for Erewash, Adam Thompson, said he was "very disappointed" at the move and is seeking a meeting with health bosses to reinstate evening walk-in appointments.

The news comes after Ilkeston UTC, based at the town's community hospital, shut in June 2024 as "a short-term measure" during a shortage of staff.

It reopened soon after with appointments only and walk-ins were reintroduced in March 2025.

Thompson said he had been told the "temporary restrictions" were put in due to "rising numbers of patients with increasingly complex medical needs".

"After years of hard work and campaigning by many people in Ilkeston, the Urgent Treatment Centre reopened for walk-ins in March 2025, after having been appointment only for some time. It's very sad that walk-ins are now being limited again," he said.

"It's especially disappointing that these restrictions come at a time when the government has been working to bring healthcare closer to where people live, rather than making it harder to access. This has included major investments in Ilkeston Hospital.

"I will be seeking a meeting with the Derbyshire Integrated Care Board and have a number of very serious questions to ask. I strongly hope that the Urgent Treatment Centre can be brought back up to full capacity sooner rather than later."

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Community Health Services said patients should contact NHS 111 first so they can "ensure people get the right care in the right place and we are prepared for them".

They added the move was "not a permanent change but an interim approach to ensure continued and safe care for local communities".

"The walk-in option is still available to people for most of the day but we're open to appointments only during the evening to ensure we can treat everyone effectively during our opening hours," the spokesperson added.

"There is no change in our overall opening times or capacity but we need to manage patients safely and ensure our clinical teams are not overwhelmed by unexpected arrivals during the evening up to 20:00.

"Our clinical teams are always ready to respond in an emergency and signage on our doors explicitly lists the symptoms, including chest pain and severe breathing difficulties, which we should be alerted to at any time during our opening hours so that we can respond immediately."

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