CALLS are being made for Worcester's walk-in clinic to be re-opened - 15 months after it controversially shut the doors.

In August last year health chiefs decided to close the Farrier Street centre as a drop-in facility despite a public outcry.

Since then pressures on the NHS have only worsened, culminating in the trust which runs Worcestershire's two main hospitals being placed in special measures.

Councillor Joy Squires, a former Worcester Labour parliamentary candidate who led the campaign to keep it open last year, now wants bosses to re-visit the decision.

"I think everybody agrees a crisis is looming this winter," she said.

"All the bodies including the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), the acute trust and Worcestershire County Council will have to think long and hard about how they'll deal with it.

"And one of those ways might be to re-open the walk-in centre.

"I'm even more worried about it NHS services than I was then, since I launched that campaign cuts to adult social care have had a huge impact and it will do so in the future.

"Demand on services will be greater and greater - last winter saw a higher number of 'avoidable' winter deaths since 2000 and fuel costs are still high, with people facing that choice of heating or eating."

Councillor Squires also said she was concerned about NHS funding not keeping up with the pressures, saying too many factors are creating "a perfect storm".

The South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group shut the walk-in last year in a bid to concentrate on services at the royal.

Worcester MP Robin Walker has also urged it to provide extra support for the acute trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal and Redditch's Alexandra Hospital.

Today, bosses at the CCG defended the move and suggested there would be no u-turn.

Dr Anthony Kelly, the chairman, said: "Since the walk-in centre closed for nine of the last 12 months, A&E attendances have been lower than the same month in the previous year.

"The number of people attending A&E is down 2.7 per cent, which equates to 1,796 patients in total.

"Since June 2014, the CCG has invested in an urgent care centre which enables GPs to work alongside doctors at the main accident and emergency department at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"This ensures patients who should be seen by a GP are treated quickly without being redirected to other services and helps to reduce pressure."

The Farrier Street clinic is now operating as a doctor's surgery only, taking registered patients rather than members of the public who walk in.