The Monkgate surgery looks the most likely home for York's new "walk-in" medical centre.

The chairman of York primary care group (PCG), Dr Bob Markham, told members of York and District Community Health Council (CHC) that no final decision had been taken for the location of the pioneering new initiative, but the Monkgate site was "probably top of our list".

He said the site, already home to the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors who successfully bidded with the PCG and York Health Trust to bring one of the 20 pilot walk-in centres to York, would provide a base which allowed a phased development of the service.

Dr Markham added it was hoped to integrate the centre with the North Yorkshire operation of the NHS Direct scheme, where people can call a special telephone line to receive health advice and information.

It was hoped that the York scheme would also provide an out-of-hours service with nurses either giving people advice or treatment, or referring them to the most appropriate other health service; an out-of-hours emergency dental service and a service for people not registered with a dentist; and a health information service during working hours.

Dr Markham said they were trying to build on and strengthen existing out-of-hours services. "I must stress, what we are not attempting to do is to provide an alternative GP provision during normal working hours," he added.

CHC member Joan Cawood said: "Are you confident you can find nurses, given the whole of the NHS has problems with staff?"

PCG chief executive Chris Reid said the work might appeal to nurses with a lot of experience and expertise who were no longer able to put in as much physical effort. "Hopefully if we can construct an attractive package we could get people who would want to come forward," he said.

Another CHC member, Caroline Patmore, asked about security. Dr Markham said York city centre was "not a benign place after hours" and it was important to get security right, while Mr Reid said one of the reasons they were interested in the Monkgate site was that the area was being used by other people out of hours and at weekends.

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