The company selected to run a new walk-in centre in Hook has promised angry residents it will double the number of parking spaces when it opens.

Malling Health’s plans to run a service open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week were floundering until it did a deal to take over the empty Hook clinic in Orchard Gardens.

Anyone would be able to turn up and book an appointment, whether or not they are registered with a GP, prompting fears from residents of more traffic congestion outside their homes.

In a stormy evening meeting inside the Hook Clinic health centre on Monday, about 40 residents and patients from the next door Orchard Practice clashed with Dr John Gray, NHS Kingston and Malling Health.

The meeting was held after councillors were pressured by upset residents, who said they had not been consulted before February’s announcement.

Kenny Gibson, head of primary care for NHS Kingston, threatened several times to end the meeting, due to interruptions from residents seeking answers.

Mr Gibson also claimed this could be the last chance for NHS capital investment in the borough for years.

Mr Gibson said: “We have struggled with planners. We have struggled with lease-holders. If we don’t convert this building in the next few months there will be no new money coming into Kingston in the next few years because of the financial constraints.”

One woman who felt she was not getting answers to her questions about parking problems stormed out when confronted about interruptions.

Another resident asked what effect building a walk-in centre would have on Kingston Hospital accident and emergency; another wanted to know whether ambulances would be visiting. She was told they would but infrequently.

But the overriding concern was on parking, with Leah Billings, from Malling Health, promising she could double the number of car parking spaces at the centre from six to 12 by removing fences and re-arranging the bays.

She said: “I would like to think you will end up becoming friends with this centre. I know you don’t think you will, but this is our experience in other centres.”

NHS Kingston must open the clinic by April, to meet a Government target of a GP-led walk in centre in every borough and has been boosted by news it will not need to submit a planning application for the change in its current guise.

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