I am writing to express my concern, and that of many residents, about the future of Harrow’s Polyclinics.

As readers will know, a great number from experience, Harrow benefits from three fantastic polyclinics: Alexandra Avenue Clinic in Rayners Lane, the Pinn Medical Centre in Pinner and the Urgent Care Clinic at Northwick Park Hospital.

They all offer walk-in services with extended opening hours — at least 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. It allows people to simply pop in and be seen by a doctor or nurse without the need for an appointment.

However, these health centres are now under threat. Despite the Tory-led Government promising increases in health spending it is becoming all to clear that real cuts are happening on the ground.

The Tory-led Government is wasting up to £3 billion on a bureaucratic top down re-organisation of local health services, which will see NHS Harrow abolished altogether and which is diverting funding from the front line — such as Harrow’s polyclinics.

I know that Gareth Thomas MP and local Labour councillors will be standing up for these valued and well-used facilities that lie at the heart of our community. I urge others to so the same.

Councillor Krishna Suresh
Rayners Lane