Walsall councillors have rejected calls to keep Palfrey Health Centre in the Palfrey area, voting against a motion that sought to maintain local health services for thousands of patients. The decision came during a scrutiny committee meeting on July 9, where a tied vote was broken by the casting vote of the Reform chairman, Councillor Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe, who voted against the motion.
Plan to relocate 5,000 patients to Saddlers Centre
The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) had proposed moving approximately 5,000 patients from the Palfrey Health Centre on Wednesbury Road to a new medical hub in the Saddlers Centre. The ICB stated that the existing building is no longer fit for purpose due to a lack of clinical space and poor conditions at Milton House, including gaps in windows that create cold and damp throughout. The practice shares the premises with Ambar Medical Centre, which is not part of the proposed move.
The ICB argued that relocating to a purpose-built unit in the Saddlers Centre would expand clinical space from six to ten rooms and provide additional services that patients currently have to travel to Walsall Manor for. However, patients have expressed major concerns about accessing the new site.
Councillors highlight health inequalities and travel concerns
Ward member for Palfrey and the Delves, Councillor Hajran Bashir, voiced residents' worries, particularly about travel. “Palfrey is one of the most deprived areas with poor health outcomes,” he said. “My own view is that we need a purpose built surgery in Palfrey and we need a commitment on that. The crossing from the retail park to the surgery is another concern and more recently with the fear of racism. Several residents have reported unprovoked racist comments and attacks. That’s a further concern for residents to travel further to the town centre. Many residents say the decision has already been made.”
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of Walsall Community Independents, warned of creating a “desert” with no health facilities in the area. “In that area it’s very diverse and very deprived. We should be doing all we can to get to the people and get rid of health inequalities rather than asking those people to come to the town centre to access services,” he said.
Motion defeated by casting vote
Councillor Nawaz put forward a motion at the July 9 scrutiny committee meeting, calling for members to ‘recognise the health inequalities that exist in the Palfrey area and the importance of services at a local level’ and to ‘support keeping the Palfrey Health Centre in the Palfrey area’. The vote resulted in a tie, with four in favour and four against. Councillor Wilberforce Awotwe used his casting vote to reject the motion, effectively backing the ICB's relocation plan.
The decision has sparked further debate about access to healthcare in deprived communities, with residents and some councillors expressing disappointment over the outcome.
